WAYNESVILLE, NC - A 50-year-old former gym owner from Waynesville accepted a plea deal earlier this week following numerous sex offense charges filed in 2025, with the plea deal dropping two charges of sexual exploitation of a minor, among other offenses.
Back in October of 2025, Stephen Edward Speed, the former owner of All About Fitness in Waynesville before it was destroyed by Hurricane Helene, turned himself into authorities after a grand jury returned an indictment listing five counts of disseminating obscenity, two counts of third-degree sexual exploitation of a minor, extortion, witness intimidation, prohibited possession of a firearm, three counts of second-degree forcible sexual offense, and assault by strangulation.
Court records note that the various charges stem from four separate incidents reportedly occurring in October 2024, December 2024, March 2025, and May 2025. Notably, the sexual exploitation of a minor charges occurred back in May 2025, the forcible sexual offense and strangulation charges stemmed from the December 2024 incident, and the extortion and witness intimidation in March 2025.
With respect to the witness intimidation and extortion, Speed had apparently threatened one of his victims, sending a text that read, “If you don't clear my name, this is gonna be bad for you and your mom's gonna see it,” alluding to sharing embarrassing or indecent photos of the victim with the victim's parents and the community.
On March 18, prosecutors dropped the two counts of third-degree sexual exploitation of a minor, the firearms offense, and the three counts of second-degree forcible sexual offenses. In turn, after pleading guilty to five counts covering disseminating obscenity, extortion, two counts of witness intimidation, and strangulation, Speed will serve a five-year suspended sentence under supervision.
If Speed violates any of the terms of his supervised release, he’ll be remanded to state custody to serve approximately 3 to 6 years behind bars.
Back in October of 2025, Stephen Edward Speed, the former owner of All About Fitness in Waynesville before it was destroyed by Hurricane Helene, turned himself into authorities after a grand jury returned an indictment listing five counts of disseminating obscenity, two counts of third-degree sexual exploitation of a minor, extortion, witness intimidation, prohibited possession of a firearm, three counts of second-degree forcible sexual offense, and assault by strangulation.
Court records note that the various charges stem from four separate incidents reportedly occurring in October 2024, December 2024, March 2025, and May 2025. Notably, the sexual exploitation of a minor charges occurred back in May 2025, the forcible sexual offense and strangulation charges stemmed from the December 2024 incident, and the extortion and witness intimidation in March 2025.
With respect to the witness intimidation and extortion, Speed had apparently threatened one of his victims, sending a text that read, “If you don't clear my name, this is gonna be bad for you and your mom's gonna see it,” alluding to sharing embarrassing or indecent photos of the victim with the victim's parents and the community.
On March 18, prosecutors dropped the two counts of third-degree sexual exploitation of a minor, the firearms offense, and the three counts of second-degree forcible sexual offenses. In turn, after pleading guilty to five counts covering disseminating obscenity, extortion, two counts of witness intimidation, and strangulation, Speed will serve a five-year suspended sentence under supervision.
If Speed violates any of the terms of his supervised release, he’ll be remanded to state custody to serve approximately 3 to 6 years behind bars.
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