A federal judge has sentenced Christopher Skipper, 39, of Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina, to 17 years in prison for distribution and possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Skipper had previously pleaded guilty to the charges while on federal supervised release from an earlier child pornography conviction. The sentence includes 210 months in prison for the new offenses, an additional 18 months for violating supervision terms, and five years 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.”
Court documents show that in fall 2024, the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office received a cyber tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children about Skipper’s online activity. Authorities determined he used a Kik social media account to distribute CSAM. A search uncovered multiple exchanges where Skipper shared explicit images and expressed sexual interest in minors.
On June 27, 2024, Skipper sent images and videos containing CSAM through Kik to another user; one video depicted a young girl being assaulted by an adult male. Investigators linked this activity back to his residence in Roanoke Rapids.
During sentencing proceedings, it was noted that more than 700 videos depicting CSAM were found on Skipper’s phone along with statements indicating his interest in minors. The court also discussed how distributing such material harms victims.
This prosecution is part of Project Safe Childhood—a national initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 aimed at fighting child sexual exploitation using coordinated efforts between federal, state, and local agencies. More information can be found at https://www.justice.gov/psc.
U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III imposed the sentence after an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, Halifax County Sheriff’s Office, North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation; Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel P. Bubar prosecuted the case.
