ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — A Buncombe County man has been sentenced to probation after pleading guilty to third-degree sexual exploitation of a minor, according to the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office.

Micah Lyons pleaded guilty on Dec. 8 and received a sentence of 24 months of supervised probation. He is also required to register as a sex offender.

Sheriff’s office investigators opened the case after receiving a cyber tip reporting child sexual abuse material, officials said. The incident occurred in December 2024 in the Bent Creek area.

District 1 Capt. Dustan Auldredge said the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force assisted in taking Lyons into custody.

“The U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force was a key component to taking this person into custody. And the skillset of our Criminal Investigations Division led to this outcome,” Auldredge said in a statement. “We will continue to go after and bring justice to those who are committing crimes against children.”