The Clay County Sheriff’s Office has established a Special Victims Unit to address a growing number of sexual crimes, with a particular focus on internet crimes against children. The unit was created in response to the need for specialized investigators who can dedicate their efforts exclusively to sex crime cases.
“Sex crimes are investigations that require highly skilled and dedicated investigators who can be solely focused on that discipline,” said Investigations Division Captain Chris Johnson. “By dedicating people to train in and have a solid understanding of sex crime case law, statutes and investigative analysis, it will make for better outcomes for victims.”
The new unit is made up of a sergeant and a detective. While they will handle all sex-related offenses, most of their workload involves cases related to child sexual abuse material. These investigations fall under the category of internet crimes against children (ICAC) and require specific training and certification. Only a few agencies in Clay County have certified ICAC investigators, so the Sheriff’s Office also assists other jurisdictions without such personnel.
Tips about suspected child exploitation often come from internet service providers, photo hosting sites, or social media platforms when they detect illegal content. These reports are sent to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, which then forwards them to local authorities like the Clay County Sheriff’s Office for investigation. Last month, the Special Victims Unit executed two search warrants as part of ongoing ICAC cases.
Because investigators are exposed to disturbing material as part of their work, members of the Special Victims Unit will meet quarterly with a mental health clinician.
Sergeant Jeremy Fahrmeier has been appointed to lead the unit.
“These types of investigations are critical,” Sergeant Fahrmeier said. “We have a lot of work to do and will be working very hard to remove the predators in our community to create a safer environment for our children and the public.”
