FORSYTH COUNTY, N.C. — A former Kernersville swim coach pleads guilty to nine counts of second-degree sexual exploitation of a minor after investigators found explicit recordings involving children between the ages of 8 and 14.
According to court documents, 27-year-old Ryen Anthony Haskins of Kernersville entered the guilty plea on Wednesday. He was sentenced to 18 to 84 months in prison — equivalent to 1½ to 7 years — and will be required to register as a sex offender.
Haskins, a former instructor with Infant Swimming Resource, was charged earlier this year following a detailed investigation by the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office and the Invictus Task Force (ITF). The investigation began after a cyber tip from a major tech company alerted federal and local authorities about suspicious online activity.
Former Kernersville Swim Coach Pleads Guilty
“How most of these cases start is with what we call a cyber tip,” said Investigator Lucas Manning with the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office. “It usually comes from an internet service provider like Verizon, Google, or Instagram, which sends information to the National Center for Missing or Exploited Children before it’s passed to us locally.”
Authorities say Haskins recorded and possessed visual material depicting minors engaged in sexual acts. Evidence collected during search warrants led to his arrest on February 4, 2025.
ITF founder Ray Dawson emphasized the importance of accountability in such cases, noting that each image or video represents real victims.
“A lot of times we hear, ‘They’re just pictures,’ but what are they pictures of? They’re depicting someone’s child being sexually abused,” Dawson said.
The former Kernersville swim coach pleads guilty case highlights the ongoing challenges law enforcement faces in identifying and stopping online exploitation. Officials say they will continue to collaborate with national agencies to protect children from digital abuse.
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Source: myfox8
Written by: Daniel Olafamoye, Greensboro NC News.
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