ECU Professor Arrested on Child Exploitation Charges
Pitt County, N.C. — An East Carolina University (ECU) associate professor, Blace Nalavany, was arrested on serious charges related to child pornography. Arrest warrants reveal that Nalavany possessed explicit photos and videos of children as young as six years old engaged in sexual situations. The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) executed a raid on Nalavany’s Winterville home following a request for assistance from the FBI in this troubling case.
Nalavany, a tenured professor since 2012 and a faculty member of the School of Social Work since 2006, has been placed on administrative suspension by ECU as the investigation unfolds. The university has expressed its commitment to cooperating with law enforcement regarding these disturbing allegations.
Jessica Baker, a former student of Nalavany, expressed her disbelief upon learning of his arrest. “When I heard about these charges, it was just very shocking — it’s still shocking to me now,” she said. Baker, who is currently working in the social work field, recalled her interactions with Nalavany as professional and supportive, making the charges all the more distressing. She noted that they had discussed the impact of trauma on children in class, making the situation even more jarring.
Nalavany, 57, has been booked into the Pitt County Jail with ten counts of second-degree sexual exploitation of a minor. His bond has been set at $750,000. Local residents have expressed their shock at the news, with one neighbor, Paul Peninger, stating, “You don’t expect somebody to be in your neighborhood to be arrested for anything like that. It’s a big surprise and kind of in shock to be honest.”
The investigation continues, with authorities working diligently to address the allegations surrounding Nalavany and the disturbing content allegedly found in his possession.
