Washoe County Sheriff’s Office ICAC Detectives Arrest Suspect on Child Exploitation Charges

Oct 29, 2024

On October 29, 2024, the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC) arrested 26-year-old Orion Scott Pickens on charges related to the possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM).

The investigation began in June 2024, when the ICAC Task Force received a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) about uploads of CSAM to X (formerly Twitter) originating from an IP address in Sparks, Nevada.

ICAC detectives investigated the tip, determining that access to the X account and uploads of CSAM were all occurring from the same residence. A warrant was served on Pickens, during which his cell phone was seized, and he was interviewed by detectives. Additionally, ICAC investigators reviewed data provided by X and located multiple items of evidentiary value within the identified account.

The Northern Nevada Cyber Center performed a digital forensic analysis of the seized cell phone, uncovering additional evidence that led to Pickens’s arrest.

Pickens is currently held at the Washoe County Detention Facility on felony charges of possession, distribution, and use of the internet to control CSAM involving a minor under the age of 16.

The Washoe County Sheriff’s Office has been a leader in combating child exploitation by dedicating full-time resources to the ICAC Task Force. This collaborative effort includes the Sparks Police Department, the FBI, the Nevada Attorney General’s Office, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Carson City Sheriff’s Office. Additionally, the team is supported by an ESD K9, generously donated by OUR Rescue, trained to detect electronic devices used in cybercrimes.

Recognizing that the internet transcends jurisdictional boundaries, the Sheriff’s Office works closely with federal and local partners to combat these crimes. ICAC Task Force members are deputized as Special Deputy U.S. Marshals through their involvement with the FBI’s Child Exploitation Task Force, expanding their reach and enforcement capabilities.

Sergeant Kristin Vietti

Public Information Officer