A Federal Judge Sentenced Halifax County Man to 17 Years for Exploiting Children Online

RALEIGH, N.C. – On Tuesday, a federal judge sentenced a Roanoke Rapids man to 17 years in prison for distribution and possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Christopher Skipper, 39, previously pled guilty to distribution and possession of CSAM while on federal supervised release for an earlier child pornography conviction. The judge sentenced him to 210 months in prison, followed by an additional 18 months for violating his supervision, and 60 months of supervised release.

“Our office will continue to protect children and prosecute child predators who exploit and abuse the most vulnerable members of our community. If you hurt children this way, we will find you and hold you accountable for the endless revictimization that these children face. We will put you in federal prison for as long as possible to protect our communities and children,” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle.

“Let this sentencing serve as a stark warning: Homeland Security Investigations and our law enforcement partners will stop at nothing to identify, investigate, and bring to justice those who exploit and harm our children,” said Homeland Security Investigations Charlotte Special Agent in Charge Cardell T. Morant, who also oversees North and South Carolina. “The depraved actions of individuals like this defendant will not go unanswered. We will continue to work tirelessly to protect the most innocent among us and ensure that predators face the full consequences of their crimes.”

According to court documents and other information presented in court, in Fall 2024, the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office received a cyber tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) related to Skipper. Investigators determined that Skipper was using a Kik social media account to distribute CSAM. A search of his Kik account revealed numerous exchanges where he shared explicit images, distributed CSAM, and expressed sexual interest in children.

On June 27, 2024, Skipper shared images and videos of CSAM with another Kik user, including a video depicting a young girl being sexually assaulted by an adult male. Further investigation linked the Kik account to Skipper’s residence in Roanoke Rapids.

At sentencing, the court highlighted the more than 700 videos of CSAM found on Skipper’s phone, his explicit statements of interest in children, and the extreme impact of distributing such material on the victims.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.

Ellis Boyle, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III. The Halifax County Sheriff’s Office, Homeland Security Investigations, and the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel P. Bubar prosecuted the case.

Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:24-CR-00082.