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Richard Dean Jordan, 31, of Bethlehem, is charged with two counts of second-degree sexual exploitation of a minor, according to the Alexander County Detention Center inmate database.

Jordan is being held on a $1.5 million bond.

Alexander County Sheriff Chad Pennell said the arrest is linked to a search warrant that was executed on Friday regarding child pornography.

The sheriff’s office searched a home along Isaac Creek Drive in the Bethlehem community of Alexander County after receiving a tip from the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Program about possible child pornography being uploaded from that location, according to a sheriff’s office report.

Jordan is listed as a resident doctor at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center on the Wake Forest University School of Medicine’s website, . The website lists Jordan as a resident doctor in cytopathology and said he has worked at the hospital since 2024.

According to the Cleveland Clinic website, cytopathology, also called cytology, is the examination of cells from tissues or bodily fluids to diagnose diseases.

“The charges are of deep concern, and we are cooperating with law enforcement in their investigation,� Wake Forest University School of Medicine said in a statement. “Once we were notified by law enforcement, we took immediate action to place him on administrative leave per our policies. At this time, we have no reason to believe any of the alleged activities occurred in any of our facilities. We are unable to comment further due to the ongoing investigation.�

Jordan is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.