For Immediate Release:
May 25, 2022
Contact: Jerri Mares – (505) 321-4372
ALBUQUERQUE — Today, New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas announces Special Agents with the New Mexico Office of the Attorney General Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Unit conducted multiple search warrants in Sandoval County after receiving CyberTips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. The investigation of child sexual exploitation determined the suspect was Sandoval County Sheriff’s Deputy, Robert Jesse Strand. During the execution of the search warrants, images of child sexual abuse were located on Strand’s devices. The images discovered through the investigation depicted children as young as infants.
“All children deserve to be safe in our community, and we will intervene to mitigate child exploitation in New Mexico,” said Attorney General Balderas.
This case was investigated by the New Mexico Attorney General’s Office and assisted by Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, Sandoval County Sheriff’s Office, Rio Rancho Police
Department, and the Bernalillo Police Department.
The case was brought as a part of the New Mexico ICAC Task Force’s mission, which is to locate, track and capture internet child sexual predators and internet child pornographers in New Mexico. There are over 90 federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies associated with the New Mexico ICAC Task Force, which is funded by an Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) grant administered by the New Mexico Office of the Attorney General. Anyone with information relating to suspected child predators is encouraged to contact federal or local law enforcement or make an anonymous report through the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at https://www.missingkids.org/cybertipline or by calling 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678)
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Robert Jesse Strand
