COURT
A 24-year-old Jones County man was sentenced to a total of 15 years to serve in prison after entering guilty pleas to three counts of criminal attempt to commit aggravated child molestation.
Christian Alan Duncan entered the negotiated plea in Jones County Superior Court Jan. 3. He received sentences of 30 years each for the three counts, with the first 15 years to serve. The sentences were allowed to run concurrently, for a total of 30 years, and the defendant was given credit from time served from the date of his arrest.
Duncan was arrested Dec. 31, 2021, and charged with three counts of enticing a child for indecent purposes. He was allowed to post a $7,500 bond.
As the investigation of the case progressed, Duncan was picked up again Jan. 11, 2022, and charged with three additional counts of sexual exploitation of children. Prosecutors presented their case to a Jones County Grand Jury April 5, 2022 and more charges were added.
Duncan was indicted for three counts of criminal attempt to commit aggravated child molestation, two counts of computer pornography and six counts of sexual exploitation of children.
The case was investigated by Jones County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Christopher Shurley. His investigative report begins Dec. 4, 2021, when he met with the mother of one of the juvenile victims.
The mother told the deputy that she was concerned about inappropriate messages her daughter was getting from a grown man. The messages appeared to begin with the adult male selling vape pens to juveniles.
The mother said one of the juveniles was caught stealing money to pay for a vape pen, and six middle school students were caught at school with the vape pens.
Snapchat conversations of the juveniles led to Duncan and those conversations went from selling the vape pens to his attempt to trade the pens for sexual acts.
Shurley found out from speaking to parents of other victims that the juveniles knew Duncan due to his connection with a local youth program. The investigator said he spoke to one of the victims in the presence of her mother who explained that Duncan was there when she was helping pass out food to the youth group.
The juvenile said she was interested in his vape pen. She said he let her and another juvenile try the vape. She said at first he said it was free but later asked for sex for payment.
Shurley said Snapchat messages documenting the conversations with Duncan were emailed to him by the victims and placed into the case file.
Shurley said he met with Duncan at his home Dec. 31, 2021. The deputy said he introduced himself and told him the nature of the case he was working. He said Duncan denied being involved at first but later admitted to being friends with the victims on Snapchat.
The suspect told Shurley he thought the girls were older. Duncan admitted to saying things he should not have, but he said as soon as he found out their ages, he blocked them.
The investigator said he asked to see Duncan’s mobile phone and took it into evidence. Shurley said he explained that he would be getting a warrant for the phone to be searched.
The investigator said he was notified by Investigator Crystal Murphy Jan. 10, 2021, that the download on Duncan’s phone was complete. He said he met with Murphy to go over the content on the phone.
Shurley said the content of the phone was disturbing and went much further than Snapchat conversations. He said the phone revealed they were dealing with a man who had a deep fascination for much younger kids.
The investigator said the phone contained a vast amount of child pornography and messages with other adults attempting to trade content. He said based on what they saw on the phone, they had enough to charge Duncan with sexual exploitation of children and pornography.
Shurley said a warrant was secured for Duncan’s arrest and a search warrant was secured for his home.
