Smiths Station resident arrested in Virginia for indecent liberties
A Smiths Station resident is facing several charges in Virginia after an underage female was having covert conversations with the resident, which led to them meeting up.
The investigation began when on September 13, 2022, at approximately 6:39 am the Gloucester County Sheriff’s Office responded to the 3000 block of Millers Landing Road in northern Gloucester County about a missing 17-year-old female.
“Criminal investigators arrived on scene and, with assistance from Uniform Patrol and School Resource deputies, discovered that the female had been having covert conversations with an unidentified male via social media,” authorities said. “A plan was formed between the missing juvenile and the male for him to pick her up this morning and depart the area.”
Using digital resources and after conducting multiple interviews, investigators developed a suspect and began to investigate his digital footprint. It was learned that the suspect may be in Prince George County, Virginia. GCSO investigators and Prince George County Police officers and detectives began checking the area and discovered the missing juvenile in that jurisdiction with the suspect. The juvenile was found to be uninjured, and her family was notified.
“She is currently in the custody of law enforcement and will be returned home safely,” the department added.
After completing supplemental interviews and evidence collection, the suspect, Damon Christopher Thomas, 44 years old and residing in SmithsStation, Alabama, was charged with the following crimes in Gloucester County:
§18.2-374.3: Use of communications systems to facilitate certain offenses involving children;
§ 18.2-370 (B): Taking indecent liberties with children; and
§ 18.2-371: Causing or encouraging acts rendering children delinquent, abused, etc.
Mr. Thomas is an active-duty enlisted member of the United States Army. He was arrested by Prince George County Police and transported to Riverside Regional Jail, where he will be held without bond.
“The Sheriff’s Office would like to thank our partner agencies who assisted in this investigation, including the Prince George County Police Department, the York-Poquoson Sheriff’s Office, the York County Department of Fire & Life Safety, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation,” the department said at the end of the released.
No further information is available and this is a developing story.
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