The small city of Hickory, North Carolina, found itself at the center of national headlines this week after Jon Reep, a well-known stand-up comedian and television personality, was arrested on multiple charges of sexual exploitation of a minor. The arrest, which took place on September 5, 2025, has left many residents and fans in disbelief, as Reep’s career had long been associated with laughter and lighthearted entertainment.
Reep, 53, is perhaps best recognized for winning the fifth season of NBC’s Last Comic Standing in 2007, a victory that launched him into the national spotlight. Over the years, he has also appeared on hit television shows such as Eastbound & Down, Curb Your Enthusiasm, and Black-ish, and starred in a series of popular Dodge commercials—most notably as the “Hemi Guy” who made the phrase “Hey, that thing got a hemi in it?” a household catchphrase. But this week, the comedian’s public persona was upended by a series of disturbing allegations.
According to reports from WSOC-TV and 3B Media News, the charges against Reep stem from an investigation initiated by a cyber tip received on April 15, 2025. The tip, provided by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, alerted the Hickory Police Department to child sexual abuse material allegedly linked to an online account belonging to Reep. Acting on this information, authorities executed a search warrant at the address associated with the suspicious account’s IP address, leading them directly to Reep’s home in Hickory.
During the search, police seized multiple electronic devices, which were then subjected to forensic analysis. The results of this analysis reportedly provided enough evidence for the Catawba County District Attorney’s Office to present the case to a grand jury. On September 2, 2025, the grand jury returned indictments against Reep, and he was subsequently arrested without incident three days later.
The charges are grave: one count of second-degree sexual exploitation of a minor and nine counts of third-degree sexual exploitation of a minor. Court documents reviewed by WSOC-TV and other local outlets indicate that the alleged offenses involve minors as young as one and as old as fourteen. The nature of the evidence has not been publicly detailed, but police confirm that the investigation is ongoing and that additional digital communications are being analyzed for further illegal activity.
Following his arrest, Reep was taken before a magistrate in Newton, North Carolina, where he was granted release after posting a $260,000 secured bond. He was released from the Catawba County Detention Facility shortly thereafter, but his court appearance remains pending. As of now, it is unclear whether Reep has retained legal counsel or entered a plea.
The news has reverberated throughout Hickory, a town of just over 44,000 residents located about 50 miles northwest of Charlotte. Many locals, who have long considered Reep a hometown hero, expressed shock at the allegations. “He was not only very well known, but very well liked,” resident Michael Swink told WSOC-TV. “It’s a shock to hear he would have those charges against him.”
Reep’s arrest has already had immediate professional consequences. He was scheduled to perform at the Paramount Theater in Goldsboro, North Carolina, on the evening of his arrest—a show that has since been rescheduled, according to People and other outlets. The future of his touring schedule and entertainment projects remains uncertain as the legal proceedings move forward.
For those less familiar with his career, Reep’s journey began in Hickory, where he was born and raised before graduating from North Carolina State University in 1997. His comedic style, often rooted in his Southern upbringing, won him a loyal following. After his breakout on Last Comic Standing, he went on to star in the ABC sitcom Rodney and appeared in specials such as Ginger Beard Man on Amazon Prime and Brad Paisley’s Comedy Rodeo on Netflix. He also co-hosted the Fried! Podcast with Sarah Tiana, further cementing his place in the comedy circuit.
The case has attracted widespread attention not only because of Reep’s celebrity status but also due to the disturbing nature of the allegations. Law enforcement officials have urged the public to avoid spreading rumors or unverified information about the case, emphasizing that the investigation is ongoing and that anyone with relevant details should contact the Catawba County Sheriff’s Office.
In a statement released by the Hickory Police Department and reported by Soap Central, authorities outlined the steps taken so far: “During the initial investigation, it was discovered that the account associated with this cyber tip belonged to Jonathan David Reep, 53, of Hickory. A search warrant was conducted at the location linked to the IP address from the cyber tip. Electronic devices were seized during the execution of the search warrant and digital forensic analysis of these devices and other online communications were completed.”
While Reep’s supporters and critics alike await further developments, legal experts note that the charges he faces carry significant penalties if he is convicted. North Carolina law treats second-degree and third-degree sexual exploitation of a minor as serious felonies, with potential for lengthy prison sentences and lifelong registration as a sex offender. The exact details of the evidence will likely become public as the case progresses through the courts.
This arrest is a stark reminder of the duality that can exist between public personas and private behavior. For many in Hickory and beyond, the allegations against Jon Reep have shattered the image of a beloved entertainer, replacing laughter with a sense of disbelief and concern. As the investigation unfolds, the community—and the comedy world at large—will be watching closely for answers and accountability.
For now, the future remains uncertain for Jon Reep, a man once celebrated for his humor and now facing some of the most serious allegations imaginable.
