– Lenoir Resident Arrested In Multi-Agency Investigation
– Multi-Agency Investigation Leads to Arrest of Lenoir Resident.
Accident – Death – Obituary News :
A Caldwell County man has been apprehended as part of a comprehensive operation aimed at combating alleged sex offenses against children. The suspect, 34-year-old Larry Ray Haskins of Harper Avenue in Lenoir, was identified in a news release issued by the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation.
Joint Effort Leads to Multiple Arrests
In a joint press conference held on Friday, February 9, law enforcement authorities announced the arrest of 16 individuals across the state on charges related to soliciting, sexually exploiting, or abusing children. The operation, known as Operation Winter Guardian, involved the collaboration of 44 local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, working together as part of the North Carolina Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (NCICAC).
The Role of Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force
The Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force is a nationally coordinated effort comprising 61 regional task forces dedicated to investigating, prosecuting, and effectively responding to internet crimes against children. In North Carolina, the NC State Bureau of Investigation’s Computer Crimes Unit leads the NCICAC Task Force, which encompasses more than 250 agencies across the state.
Operation Winter Guardian: A Two-Part Initiative
Operation Winter Guardian, conducted by the NCICAC in January, consisted of two distinct phases, primarily taking place during the week of January 8 – 12. The first phase involved law enforcement investigators assuming undercover roles online and engaging in chats with individuals seeking to meet minors for sexual activity.
Subsequently, some of these individuals traveled to a designated location in Gaston County, under the impression that they were meeting a child for engaging in illicit acts. The second phase of the operation entailed executing search warrants at various locations throughout the state, identified as distribution points for the sharing of child sexual exploitation images.
Successful Protection of Vulnerable Children
As a result of these investigations, at least five children were identified and safeguarded from ongoing sexual abuse. The law enforcement agencies involved in Operation Winter Guardian included the Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office, Catawba County Sheriff’s Office, Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Secret Service, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and N.C. State Bureau of Investigation.
Charges Against Larry Ray Haskins
Haskins’ arrest on charges of second-degree sexual exploitation of a minor was previously reported by WHKY in January. The apprehension was carried out by the Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office. Haskins is currently held at the Caldwell County Detention Center, with a bond set at $10,000. No forthcoming court dates in Caldwell County have been scheduled at this time.
[Information courtesy of a news release from the N.C. State Bureau of Investigation]
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1. Lenoir resident arrested in multi-agency investigation
2. Multi-agency investigation results in 16 arrests, including Lenoir resident.
