LELAND — Detectives with the Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office have arrested a Leland man on child pornography charges after a joint investigation with Homeland Security agents.
Andrew Timothy Hodge was arrested Monday night, Feb. 12, and charged with four counts of second-degree exploitation of a minor. The charge refers to copying and/or distributing child pornography, and is more severe than third-degree exploitation, or possession of pornography. According to the Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office, Hodge made copies of photographs of a young girl, between the ages of 8 and 10.
Hodge is also charged with one count of indecent liberties with a child.
Hodge is currently being detained in the Brunswick County Detention Facility under a $1,000,000 secure bond.
A representative for the Department of Homeland Security said the arrest was part of Operation Predator, one of the department’s investigative task forces. Operation Predator tracks both foreign and domestic sex trafficking and child pornography.
