Greg Warren is being held without bond after a first court appearance; the State Bureau of Investigation says seven felony counts were filed.
NEWTON GROVE, NC — Newton Grove Police Chief Greg Warren was arrested this week on seven felony charges, including six counts of secret peeping and one count of indecent liberties with a minor, following a State Bureau of Investigation probe requested by the Sampson County Sheriff’s Office. A district court judge denied bond during Warren’s initial appearance, and he remains at the Sampson County Detention Center as the case moves forward.
The arrest puts the town’s leadership under intense scrutiny and shifts a local department into crisis management. Investigators say the alleged conduct spans separate years and involves images taken without consent. Town officials have suspended Warren without pay while the SBI and local prosecutors continue reviewing evidence. The case is now in its early court stages, with a next appearance set for mid-January. The outcome could affect the department’s staffing and public trust in a community that relies on a small force to handle traffic, patrols and calls across a junction of rural highways in eastern North Carolina.
Agents took Warren into custody after the sheriff’s office asked the SBI to investigate allegations concerning a juvenile. Court records outline a single indecent-liberties count tied to an incident in 2023 and six secret-peeping counts from 2025. During a brief hearing on Thursday, District Court Judge Robert Gilmore denied bond, citing the seriousness of the allegations as prosecutors summarized the accusations for the court. The judge set a follow-up date for Jan. 15. Warren, who appeared in court in custody, did not address the accusations. He is represented by counsel, according to officials, though the attorney of record did not immediately respond to requests for comment following the hearing.
According to investigators’ filings presented in court, the case centers on allegations that Warren went into a victim’s bedroom and took photographs while the victim was asleep, and later possessed those images. The SBI said its inquiry began after Sampson County deputies received the initial report and asked state agents to take the lead. The seven-count charging sheet includes one felony charge of indecent liberties with a minor and six felony counts alleging secret peeping, all tied to dates specified in sworn documents. Officials have not released the age of the victim to protect the person’s identity. Authorities say the investigation is ongoing and could include additional interviews and forensic review of electronic devices seized under warrant.
Warren has served as Newton Grove’s police chief for several years, overseeing a small department in a town of roughly 600 residents at the intersection of U.S. 701 and state routes that link Sampson County with the Raleigh and Fayetteville regions. The town announced that Warren is suspended without pay pending the case’s outcome. Neighboring agencies and the Sampson County Sheriff’s Office routinely assist with calls in and around Newton Grove; officials said those mutual-aid arrangements will continue while the department functions without its top officer. Records show Warren previously worked in local law enforcement before being named chief, a common pathway in small departments where personnel often wear multiple hats.
Legal steps now shift to discovery and scheduling. Prosecutors are expected to file formal indictments or proceed on the existing warrants as the District Attorney’s Office evaluates the evidence gathered by the SBI. A probable-cause hearing or grand jury review could occur in the coming weeks, according to standard procedure, with the next district court date set for Jan. 15. If the case is bound over, it would move to superior court, where a judge would handle arraignment and pretrial motions. Warren remains jailed without bond following the initial denial; his attorneys could renew a bond request at a later hearing. The town board may meet again before month’s end to address interim leadership for the police department and budget implications of the suspension.
Outside the courthouse, residents described a mix of shock and frustration that the allegations involve the community’s highest-ranking officer. Parents arriving for school pickup on Thursday afternoon said they were watching for official updates rather than online speculation. One longtime shop owner said the town is “quiet by nature,” adding that seeing multiple deputies and SBI vehicles in town on Wednesday “made everyone stop and look.” During the hearing, the judge reminded those present that the proceeding was a first appearance, not a trial, and asked for order as the charges were read. Town administrators issued a brief statement acknowledging the arrest and stressing that day-to-day services will continue while the case proceeds in court.
As of Sunday, Warren remained in custody, and investigators said interviews and evidence reviews were continuing ahead of the Jan. 15 court date. Officials have not announced any additional arrests. The police department’s operations are being covered through mutual aid, and town leaders said they would release updates after court proceedings this week.
Author note: Last updated January 11, 2026.