FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 2, 2024
Lynchburg Police Department Announces Arrest in Child Exploitation Case
LYNCHBURG, VA – The Lynchburg Police Department (LPD) is pleased to announce an arrest in a child exploitation investigation that resulted in the arrest of Andrew Joseph O’Hop on August 1, 2024.
In January 2024, Detectives with the Lynchburg Police Department received multiple cyber tips from the Southern Virginia Internet Crimes Against Children (SOVA-ICAC) Task Force. These tips flagged an account suspected of containing Child-Sensitive Abuse Material (CSAM) uploaded to their cloud storage.
Detectives worked through these tips, obtaining search warrants and verifying the presence of CSAM on the flagged account. Further investigative efforts led to identifying a potential offender and an address through additional court orders.
LPD executed multiple search warrants at the suspect’s residence, as well as on the suspect’s person and vehicle. During these operations, various electronic devices were seized.
After several months of a thorough investigation, charges were filed against Andrew Joseph O’Hop, 29 years of age, of Lynchburg. The charges include:
- 1 count of Possession of Child Pornography
- 9 counts of Possession of Child Pornography Second or Subsequent Offense
- 1 count of Sexual Abuse of Animals
O’Hop was taken into custody without incident and is currently being held at the Lynchburg Blue Ridge Jail pending a bond hearing.
This case is a testament to the joint efforts of the Lynchburg Police Department, SOVA-ICAC, and other associated agencies. We extend our thanks to all involved for their hard work and dedication in bringing justice in this important matter.