Michael Trey, 38, was arrested in Florida on a fugitive warrant and now faces 72 charges in New Hanover County, including rape, secret peeping, and domestic violence violations.
WILMINGTON, N.C. — A Wilmington man is now sitting behind bars after authorities say he racked up 72 criminal charges across 30 open cases, including serious felony sex crimes that span more than a year.
According to the Wilmington Police Department, 38-year-old Michael Trey was arrested in Florida on a fugitive warrant and extradited back to North Carolina. Court records show the charges were filed in two separate waves — one on August 15, 2025, and another on February 18, 2026 — in New Hanover County.
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Authorities say the allegations are deeply disturbing.
What Investigators Allege
Court documents outline a series of charges that include:
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23 counts of Felony Secret Peeping
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29 counts of Disseminating Images Obtained from Felony Secret Peeping
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8 counts of Second-Degree Forcible Sexual Offense
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4 counts of Second-Degree Forcible Rape
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5 counts of Sexual Battery
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3 counts of Misdemeanor Domestic Violence Protective Order Violation
The bulk of the charges — 52 counts — stem from allegations of felony secret peeping tied to offense dates ranging from August 2024 through July 2025.
Investigators allege that Trey secretly recorded multiple victims and, in several cases, sexually assaulted them. Court records further allege that some assaults occurred while victims were unconscious or physically helpless between September 2024 and July 2025.
The most recent batch of charges filed on February 18, 2026, includes misdemeanor sexual battery and alleged violations of a domestic violence protective order.
Arrested Out of State
Police say Trey was located and arrested in Florida on a fugitive warrant before being transported back to North Carolina. He is currently being held without bond at the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office Detention Center.
Authorities have not released additional details about the victims, citing the sensitive nature of the charges. The investigation remains active, and additional court proceedings are expected in the coming weeks.
