Christopher Van Skipper was sentenced to 17 years in prison for distribution and possession of child sexual abuse material. 

Skipper, 39, of Roanoke Rapids, previously pleaded guilty to distribution and possession of CSAM while on federal supervised release for an earlier child pornography conviction. 

District Judge James C. Dever III sentenced him to 210 months in prison, followed by an additional 18 months for violating his supervision, and 60 months of supervised release.

“Our office will continue to protect children and prosecute child predators who exploit and abuse the most vulnerable members of our community,” said United States Attorney Ellis Boyle. “If you hurt children this way, we will find you and hold you accountable for the endless revictimization that these children face. We will put you in federal prison for as long as possible to protect our communities and children.” 

“Let this sentencing serve as a stark warning: Homeland Security Investigations and our law enforcement partners will stop at nothing to identify, investigate, and bring to justice those who exploit and harm our children,” said Homeland Security Investigations Charlotte Special Agent in Charge Cardell T. Morant, who also oversees North and South Carolina. “The depraved actions of individuals like this defendant will not go unanswered. We will continue to work tirelessly to protect the most innocent among us and ensure that predators face the full consequences of their crimes.”

According to court documents and other information presented in court last fall the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office received a cyber tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children related to Skipper. 

Investigators determined that Skipper was using a Kik social media account to distribute CSAM. A search of his Kik account revealed numerous exchanges where he shared explicit images, distributed CSAM, and expressed sexual interest in children.

On June 27, 2024, Skipper shared images and videos of CSAM with another Kik user, including a video depicting a young girl being sexually assaulted by an adult male. Further investigation linked the Kik account to Skipper’s residence in Roanoke Rapids.

At sentencing, the court highlighted the more than 700 videos of CSAM found on Skipper’s phone, his explicit statements of interest in children, and the extreme impact of distributing such material on the victims.

This case was part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice.