Timothy Charles Rupard, age 44 of Avery County faces multiple charges following an investigation from Elizabethton Police Department. According to the Elizabethton Police Department an investigator received a message on an undercover social media account from a male subject soliciting sex from a 16-year-old female. During the month of September, several other messages were sent from the male continuing the exploitation attempt. On October 11th Rupard was arrested after he attempted to flee from police, when he was in route to visit the 16-year-old. Rupard was charged with sexual exploitation of a minor and simple possession of Schedule VI, stop sign violation, felony evading, unlawful passing vehicle in opposite direction on left, and reckless driving.
Rupard pastored Temple Baptist Church in Newland.
