Division Chief - Special Victims Unit Montgomery County District Attorney's Office
This case study focuses on an ICAC investigation that was launched after another offender identified the defendant as their "mentor". Through a chat operation, the defendant revealed access to his girlfriend's children and shared evidence of sexual abuse spanning seven years. After acquiring his electronics, investigators found a collection of child pornography, over 150 videos documenting the seven years of abuse, and his "rules of the trade" for abusing children that he shared on various platforms.
The investigation required extensive collaboration across jurisdictions to review evidence, identify locations, and determine proper jurisdiction for charges. Despite having video evidence, both children initially denied abuse during forensic interviews, highlighting the complexity of disclosure in these cases.
The case exemplifies effective multi-agency cooperation between local and federal law enforcement, Children's Advocacy Centers, and Child Protective Services. Investigators and prosecutors strategically built the case, elevating charges from Promotion of Child Pornography to Continuous Sexual Abuse of a Child. Using a "less is more" approach at trial, they secured a conviction, resulting in a stacked life sentence.
Learning Objectives:
Apply advanced investigative techniques and use multiagency partners to build stronger cases by uncovering evidence that support maximum charging opportunities.
Analyze documented evidence of offender grooming and manipulation to better recognize these patterns in cases lacking explicit documentation.
Apply strategic evidence presentation methods that maximize prosecution outcomes while minimizing trauma to victims and jurors.