Registered sex offender in Orange Co. charged with 26 counts of child exploitation
LOT OF IT WASHES THE POLLEN
AWAY ON THE SHOW THAT THINGS
LIKE A REGISTERED OFFENDER IS
IN TROUBLE WITH THE LAW.
AGAIN, LUCAS ATWATER, HE'S
FACING NOW MORE THAN 2 DOZEN
CHARGES RELATED TO CHILD
EXPLOITATION AT HIS FIRST
APPEARANCE IN COURT JUST THIS
MORNING WRAL'S MONICA CASEY HAS
MORE ON THESE NEW CHARGES.
>> HE HAD AN OUT WATER WAS HERE
IN HILLSBOROUGH TO FACE A JUDGE
TODAY. HE WAS ALREADY A
REGISTERED OFFENDER HERE IN
ORANGE COUNTY.
>> 23 YEAR-OLD LUCAS ATWATER IS
CHARGED WITH 26 COUNTS OF
THIRD-DEGREE EXPLOITATION OF
A MINOR THAT INVOLVES HAVING
MATERIAL WITH A REPRESENTATION
OF A MINOR ENGAGED IN 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.
THIS IS HIS FIRST PROBATION
VIOLATION. THE INTERNET CRIMES
AGAINST CHILDREN TASK FORCE
STARTED WORKING ON THIS CASE
3 MONTHS AGO AFTER RECEIVING
A TIP AT WATERS BOND FOR THE
EXPLOITATION CHARGES IS
$25,000. HE HAS ANOTHER.
$25,000 BOND FOR HIS PROBATION
VIOLATION.
>> AND ATWATER IS NOT ALLOWED
TO HAVE ANY CONTACT WITH MINORS
AS A CONDITION OF HIS BOND.
HIS NEXT COURT DATE IS
SCHEDULED FOR APRIL 8.
MONICA CASEY LIVE IN ORANGE