Hillsborough man charged with 26 counts of child sex crimes

A Hillsborough man and registered sex offender faces 26 counts of third-degree child sex exploitation.

Lucas Owen Atwater, 23, was arrested Friday and charged with 26 counts of third-degree sexual exploitation of a minor and a felony probation violation, according to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office.

According to the sheriff's office, third-degree exploitation of a minor involves a person in possession of material containing a visual representation of a minor engaged in sexual activity. He's also charged with felony probation violation.

Atwater was convicted of the same crime back in 2021. Paperwork shows that crime happened in 2016 when he was 16 years old.

Atwater is a registered sex offender in Orange County.

A tip prompted the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) to investigate the case three months earlier.

Atwater is in custody at the Orange County Detention Center under no bond. His next court date is April 8.

Anyone with information is asked to call him Sgt. D. Hendricks at 919-245-2951.