Following the Currituck Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) arrest of a local man for Statutory Rape of a child under 13, we reached out to Sheriff Matt Beickert to learn more about how he is working to combat child sex crimes. We didn’t hear back from Beickert, but he did have Captain Kevin McCord reply to our request.

Child Predators be Warned

In short, if you’re a child predator in Currituck, chances are you might be caught. We learned that the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) has a resident Agent with the CCSO who works closely with Criminal Investigation Team detectives. McCord told us that he also has a Certified Forensic Examiner on staff.

The CCSO has two sworn officers certified as liaisons with the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC). The ICAC was formed in 1998 and has over 60 task forces nationwide, working with over 5K law enforcement agencies and making more than 89K arrests.

Who is on the Sex Offender Registry

The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation maintains the North Carolina Sex Offender Registry. The Currituck Sheriff’s Office also maintains a registry that lists offenders by townships.

The District Attorney’s Office

Detectives from CCSO attend monthly meetings with District Attorney Jeff Cruden’s office to discuss offenders’ current and former cases. McCord said that in addition to law enforcement, Child Advocacy Staff, Kids First Forensic Examiners, Hopeline, District Attorney’s Office Staff, Social Services Staff, Probation and Parole Staff, and sometimes a Judge attend. CCSO recently added two of their detectives to a Rapid Response Team for Sex Trafficking. The effectiveness of Rapid Response Teams relies on collaboration, communication, and a comprehensive understanding of the complex issues surrounding sex trafficking. These teams play a crucial role in the overall effort to combat human trafficking and support survivors on their path to recovery.

Cell Phone Dumps

The CCSO has someone on staff trained in retrieving information and data from cell phones using Cellbrite. These phone dumps are utilized in both sex crimes and narcotics cases, according to McCord. Cellebrite’s products are designed to assist in digital forensics, allowing authorities to access information stored on smartphones and other mobile devices. One of Cellebrite’s well-known products is the Universal Forensic Extraction Device (UFED), a tool designed to extract and analyze data from various mobile devices, including smartphones and tablets. UFED can help investigators retrieve call logs, text messages, emails, and other digital artifacts.

Other Technology

You can run, but you can’t hide from CCSO; they utilize two drones and have three officers certified to operate them. Deputies use drones in the execution of search warrants and surveillance. Additionally, Currituck’s resident SBI agent works a state drone.

The Victims

CCSO works closely with Kids First Child Abuse Treatment Center and Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughter on child forensic examinations. According to the Kids First website, they see up to 250 sexually abused children each year.

In Summary

Currituck County Sheriff’s Office has robust training, education, technology, and resources available to them in conducting investigations of child sexual abuse and human trafficking.