The following press release has been issued by Cherokee County Sheriff's Office.
Murphy, NC— During the February 29th, 2016 session of Cherokee County Superior Court, 55-year-old Scott Kinloch Carter of Murphy, North Carolina entered pleas to charges involving the duplication and possession of child exploitation images.
Carter appeared before William H. Coward, the senior resident superior court judge for the 30th Judicial District of North Carolina, who sentenced Carter to an active sentence of no less than 20 months and no more than 84 months for Second Degree Sexual Exploitation of a Minor. Additionally, Carter was given four no less than 6 and no more than 17 month sentences which Carter will have to do probation for 36 months. If Carter were to violate the conditions of his probation, then he would have to serve the four sentences consecutively. Carter is required to register as a sex offender for 30 years upon release from the North Carolina Department of Adult Corrections.
The joint investigation began in March 2015 when the Murphy Police Department received information that Carter was in possession of images on his computer which were described as being young children undressed and involved in various sex acts with adults some as young as infant and toddlers. This information was provided to the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office and a joint investigation was undertaken.
During the investigation, members of the Murphy Police Department and the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office conducted a search of Carter’s Mcclelland Street residence. During the search of the residence, a computer and hard drives along with records were seized to be analyzed. During the analysis of the computer and hard drives, approximately 10,000 images were identified as depicting children engaged in various sex acts. Many of the images depicted children as young as toddlers. Additionally, approximately 160 hours of videos were located on the hard drives that were identified as child exploitation material, many of which also displayed children as young as toddlers and infants. There were also wire bound notebooks which contained passwords and search terms that indicated that Carter had been actively searching for the child exploitation images on the internet.
Sheriff Palmer stated, “These cases are very technical and complex in nature. Cases such as this one are very time consuming and are not solved in an hour as we see on television. Working together, we are able to share expertise and technology that most smaller agencies do not possess. My Office is committed to continue our vigilance and protection of the community and our youth. We are grateful when agencies such as Murphy Police Department call upon us and allow us to continue our pursuit and work together toward a common goal.”
Sheriff Palmer encourages anyone that has information to report it. To report crime in Cherokee County you can call the anonymous tip line at 828-837-1344 or email a tip at crime.tips@cherokeecounty-nc.gov or call 911 if you observe a crime in progress.
Murphy, NC— During the February 29th, 2016 session of Cherokee County Superior Court, 55-year-old Scott Kinloch Carter of Murphy, North Carolina entered pleas to charges involving the duplication and possession of child exploitation images.
Carter appeared before William H. Coward, the senior resident superior court judge for the 30th Judicial District of North Carolina, who sentenced Carter to an active sentence of no less than 20 months and no more than 84 months for Second Degree Sexual Exploitation of a Minor. Additionally, Carter was given four no less than 6 and no more than 17 month sentences which Carter will have to do probation for 36 months. If Carter were to violate the conditions of his probation, then he would have to serve the four sentences consecutively. Carter is required to register as a sex offender for 30 years upon release from the North Carolina Department of Adult Corrections.
The joint investigation began in March 2015 when the Murphy Police Department received information that Carter was in possession of images on his computer which were described as being young children undressed and involved in various sex acts with adults some as young as infant and toddlers. This information was provided to the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office and a joint investigation was undertaken.
During the investigation, members of the Murphy Police Department and the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office conducted a search of Carter’s Mcclelland Street residence. During the search of the residence, a computer and hard drives along with records were seized to be analyzed. During the analysis of the computer and hard drives, approximately 10,000 images were identified as depicting children engaged in various sex acts. Many of the images depicted children as young as toddlers. Additionally, approximately 160 hours of videos were located on the hard drives that were identified as child exploitation material, many of which also displayed children as young as toddlers and infants. There were also wire bound notebooks which contained passwords and search terms that indicated that Carter had been actively searching for the child exploitation images on the internet.
Sheriff Palmer stated, “These cases are very technical and complex in nature. Cases such as this one are very time consuming and are not solved in an hour as we see on television. Working together, we are able to share expertise and technology that most smaller agencies do not possess. My Office is committed to continue our vigilance and protection of the community and our youth. We are grateful when agencies such as Murphy Police Department call upon us and allow us to continue our pursuit and work together toward a common goal.”
Sheriff Palmer encourages anyone that has information to report it. To report crime in Cherokee County you can call the anonymous tip line at 828-837-1344 or email a tip at crime.tips@cherokeecounty-nc.gov or call 911 if you observe a crime in progress.