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NATCHEZ — Natchez native Fred Middleton, Concordia Parish Sheriff David Hedrick’s chief deputy, told Natchez Rotarians his department has arrested 115 child predators in the last two years, thanks to the office’s Cyber Crimes Unit.

As important, the Concordia Parish Sheriff’s Office has assisted 446 victims of child predators and domestic violence through counseling, therapy, assistance with a lawyer, and getting protective orders since beginning its victim advocacy program.

“We received a call about two years ago from the attorney general’s office about a possible child predator in Concordia Parish. At that time, we didn’t know a lot, but we agreed to share with them and work that case with them and we did so successfully,” Middleton said.

Soon after, the CPSO got involved with a group called Underground Railroad, which provides grant funding for law enforcement agencies across the U.S. to help children who are victims of Crimes.

Middleton discussed software and equipment acquired and used by the CPSO Cyber Crimes Unit, which can tap into cell phones and computers and perform other forensic functions, like facial identification when searching for a subject or predator.

“We have arrested 115 child predators in the last two years. That’s 115 people arrested, with one detective running the unit. That’s a lot of work put in. They are very long and very difficult cases to work,” he said.

“The truth of the matter is, (child predators are at work) in every town in Louisiana and Mississippi. The difference is our sheriff is looking for them. Sheriff Hedrick committed to the people of Concordia Parish and Louisiana to protect children and protect the elderly,” Middleton said.

The Cyber Crimes Unit sets up profiles on social media sites frequented by teenagers, such as MeetMe and Grindr.

“We create a profile and use a profile picture. Somebody contacts us, and the chat begins. It can take weeks to cross the line. Early on, we are just chatting and pretending to be a 15-year-old child. We start the chat and tell them right away that we are 15 years old. They will say something about that being too young, but eight out of 10 times, they come back. They can’t help themselves,” Middleton said.

He said the chat may take several days to “cross the line. That’s when we go to work.”

Middleton warned parents and grandparents to be aware of what their children are doing on their cell phones.

“So many times in Concordia Parish, we have children texting adults. It starts off OK, then it gets a little salty and give them a few minutes, and they are asking for photos — asking the child for photos or sending photos,” he said.

Middleton discussed an incident recently when a chat with a suspected predator led to the arrest of a Monroe, Louisiana, man.

“He knew we were 15 years old, but he wanted to come meet on the riverfront, pick this person up, and take them to Monroe for the weekend,” he said. “As soon as we arrested him, we searched his vehicle and found a roll of duct tape and a knife, and he was wearing an ankle monitor. He had just been arrested in Monroe two months earlier and had bonded out.”

Middleton said more often, the predator is a family member, not a stranger “in a white van.

“We always hear people talking about a white van roaming the streets looking to abduct children. It’s not the white van. It’s the uncle, the aunt, somebody in the family unit. It’s prevalent. We arrested a 74-year-old grandfather recently who is a child predator involving his own grandchildren,” he said.

The victims’ advocacy program came about because “we felt like we were leaving them (victims) on the battlefield.”

“That’s when we created Hope’s Space, a soft interview room. Whether you are a victim of domestic violence or a victim of a child predator, this gives you a soft place,” Middleton said.

“I don’t know if you’ve ever been in a jail, but there is a lot of clanking and banging and cussing that goes on. You don’t want to bring a victim into a jail to hear and see all that. So we created Hope’s Space. It’s a soft interview room for women and children who have been harmed in some way. It’s just like being in your den at home. It brings the temperature way down,” he said.

Because of the victims’ advocacy program, the number of reports of domestic violence began trending up when Hedrick was elected.

“Domestic violence is so prevalent because a person can’t get out. They can’t afford to get out. They don’t know what to do,” he said. “When Sheriff Hedrick started four years ago, the domestic violence numbers were not very high. It is our belief the numbers started trending upward because people now believe they are going to get some help. Somebody is going to go to jail and someone is going to hear my story and believe what I am saying. Now, we are seeing the numbers trend back down.”

As chief deputy, Middleton raised funding for the Cyber Crimes Unit. He raised $100,000 from the community and $70,000 from a grant from the Louisiana Commission of Law Enforcement.

The victims’ services resulted from the numerous victims identified through the Cyber Crimes Unit.

The Concordia Parish Sheriff’s Office was awarded $40,000 from leaders in law enforcement upon being chosen Louisiana Outstanding Law Enforcement Agency of the Year in 2022. Those efforts resulted in Middleton being chosen as deputy of the year in 2024 by the Louisiana Sheriff’s Association.