A former Harnett County sheriff’s deputy, Johnathan A. Edwards, has been sentenced to 23 years in federal prison and 15 years of supervised release for producing child sexual abuse material. Edwards, 37, exploited children on the website Omegle while under investigation for allegedly harassing a detention center inmate. The case was the result of a joint investigation by the North Carolina SBI, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Harnett County Sheriff’s Office. Officials emphasized the seriousness of law enforcement officers betraying public trust and reaffirmed their commitment to combating child exploitation. Edwards has also been ordered to pay $10,000 in restitution.
