ROBERT PEACE FROM EDWINDSTOWE SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEX CRIMES IN ORANGE COUNTY

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community, Robert Peace, a man now residing in Edwinstowe, Nottinghamshire, was convicted of heinous child sex offenses committed in the United States. The investigation into Peace’s criminal activities revealed a disturbing pattern of exploitation and abuse involving underage girls.

It all began in January 2019 when Peace was arrested by authorities in Huntington Beach, California. The arrest was prompted after a family member of one of Peace’s victims discovered explicit images of children stored on his portable hard drive. This family member promptly reported the findings to the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, setting in motion a detailed investigation by the Orange County Child Exploitation Task Force.

During the investigation, authorities identified a 13-year-old girl from Edicott, New York, as one of Peace’s victims. It was revealed that Peace had engaged with the girl through a video chat website, where he managed to persuade her to send explicit videos of herself over a period of two years. The predator used manipulative tactics, including blackmail, threatening to release the videos unless she continued to send him more indecent images. Unbeknownst to the victim, Peace also uploaded some of these videos online, further compounding the harm.

Further probing uncovered another victim, a 14-year-old girl from Virginia. Peace had used the same online platform to contact her, and over two years, he received numerous videos from her as well. The authorities found that Peace’s collection of illicit material was extensive, containing over 1,500 lewd images and more than 300 graphic videos depicting child sexual abuse, including webcam footage.

The investigation also uncovered additional incriminating evidence at Peace’s residence and vehicle, where police found more child sexual abuse images. The authorities confirmed that Peace, a native of the United Kingdom, had been involved in these activities for an extended period.

On the day of his arrest, Peace was taken into custody by multiple agencies, including the Huntington Beach Police Department, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Orange County Sheriff’s Department. His guilty plea in court on a Friday confirmed his involvement in multiple serious crimes. Peace admitted to 13 felony counts, which included seven counts of lewd acts upon a child and two counts related to the use of a minor for the distribution of obscene material.

His sentencing marked a significant step in the pursuit of justice for his victims, highlighting the ongoing efforts of law enforcement agencies to combat child exploitation and protect vulnerable minors from predators like Robert Peace.