SCOOP: Man charged with over 50 counts of possessing child pornography
The Rutherford County Sheriff's Office said John Trotter, 61, is being held on $1.1M bond.
Today, police officials said a "months-long investigation that focused on John Thomas Trotter Jr.” was completed on Saturday, resulting in his arrest. Detectives with Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office (RCSO) Criminal Investigation Division, who are also members of the North Carolina Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (NCICAC), said that in September of 2023, a search warrant was executed at Trotter’s residence, where electronic devices were seized.
The devices were sent to RCSO's in-house digital forensic investigator. On the devices 52 images and 2 videos were located that were consistent with child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
In January the case was presented before a grand jury in Rutherford County and 55 indictments for Third Degree Exploitation of a Minor were returned. A public records request is pending from Cops & Congress for court records.
According to the Dept. of Justice, the term “child pornography” is currently used in federal statutes and is defined as any visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct involving a person less than 18 years old. While this phrase still appears in federal law, “child sexual abuse material” is preferred, as it better reflects the abuse that is depicted in the images and videos and the resulting trauma to the child.
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🏛️ All those mentioned are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
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