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Editor’s Note: This story has been updated with new information from the sheriff’s office about additional charges against the suspect.
WASHINGTON COUNTY, Va. (WJHL) — A Mount Carmel man traveled to Washington County, Virginia, to meet a juvenile to “take them to Tennessee for sexual acts,” police reported Thursday.
According to a news release from the Washington County, Virginia Sheriff’s Office, Richard M. Holtzclaw, 51, was arrested after an online child exploitation investigation.
Holtzclaw was reportedly arrested when he traveled to Washington County, Virginia to meet a juvenile, the sheriff’s office stated. He was also reportedly wanted out of Hawkins County.
In total, Holtzclaw was charged with the following:
- Taking Indecent Liberties with Children – 40 counts
- Attempted Abduction and Kidnapping – 1 count
- Possession, Reproduction, Distribution, Solicitation, and Facilitation of Child Pornography – 2 counts
- Use of Communications Systems to Facilitate Certain Offenses Involving Children – 1 count
- Possession of a Schedule II Controlled Substance – 1 count
As of Thursday, Holtzclaw is being held without bond at the Southwest Virginia Regional Jail.
“Detectives are continuing to investigate items seized from his possession that may contain child pornography,” the sheriff’s office said in the release.
On Friday, the sheriff’s office provided an update stating that Holtzclaw had been charged with 50 counts of possession of child pornography.
Sheriff Blake Andis encouraged parents and guardians to be vigilant about their children’s online activity.