Ridgeway, VA
On November 20, 2024, the Henry County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at 420 Glen Oak Circle in Ridgeway, Virginia, as part of an ongoing investigation into child sexual exploitation.
The investigation began on August 28, 2024, when the Southern Virginia Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (SOVA ICAC) received a CyberTip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC).
The tip identified multiple files of suspected child sexual abuse material being shared through private chat messages on a social media platform.
Through an emergency disclosure request, investigators were able to trace the activity to an IP address.
A subsequent court order allowed authorities to obtain subscriber information from the internet service provider, confirming that the account was registered to Nicholas Sean Trumble, residing at the Ridgeway address.
On November 20, 2024, law enforcement officers executed the search warrant at Trumble's residence, seizing electronic devices, including a Motorola cellular phone belonging to Trumble. A forensic examination of the phone, completed on November 26, 2024, revealed images and videos of child sexual abuse material that had been downloaded. The files depicted young children engaged in explicit sexual acts.
On November 27, 2024, Trumble, 36 years of age, was arrested without incident. He has been charged with the following offenses:
1 Count of 18.2-374.1:1 – Possession of Child Pornography (1st Offense)
17 Counts of 18.2-374.1:1 – Possession of Child Pornography (2nd or Subsequent Offense)
Trumble is currently held without bond at the Henry County Adult Detention Center.
The Henry County Sheriff’s Office, in collaboration with the SOVA ICAC Task Force, remains committed to combating crimes against children and urges the public to report any suspicious online activity to law enforcement or the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
For further information, please contact the Henry County Sheriff’s Office.