Jon Reep, the Hickory-born comedian who shot to fame after winning NBC’s Last Comic Standing, has been arrested in North Carolina on multiple child exploitation charges.
Officials confirmed Friday that a grand jury indicted the 52-year-old comic on several counts of second- and third-degree sexual exploitation of a minor. Reep appeared before a magistrate in Newton shortly after his arrest.
The comedian had been scheduled to perform a stand-up show in Goldsboro, North Carolina, later that night, but it’s unclear whether the event will go ahead following the charges.
Reep’s website highlights his comedy career, which took off after he won Last Comic Standing Season 5 with the highest audience vote. Over the years, he’s been featured in Netflix’s Brad Paisley’s Comedy Rodeo and headlined his own Amazon Prime special, Ginger Beard Man.
His arrest comes as North Carolina law enforcement intensifies its crackdown on child exploitation. Just days earlier, authorities in Gastonia announced a separate arrest tied to similar offenses.
For Reep, who built a career around Southern humor and storytelling, the indictment marks a shocking fall from grace. Neither he nor his representatives have released any public comment on the charges.
This is a developing story, and more details are expected as court proceedings move forward.
