Hampstead man arrested on multiple child sex crime charges following joint investigation

PENDER COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — A 53-year-old Hampstead man has been arrested on multiple child sex crime charges following a joint investigation by the Pender County Sheriff’s Office and the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office.

The sheriff’s offices said special victims unit detectives from both agencies conducted a joint operation on Aug. 4 in Hampstead, located in Pender County, that resulted in the arrest of John Trott.

According to the Pender County Sheriff’s Office, Trott was charged with three counts of statutory sex offense with a child, five counts of indecent liberties with a child and two counts of statutory rape of a child.

The New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office also charged Trott with statutory rape of a child, statutory sex offense with a child, incest of a child and indecent liberties with a child.

Trott was scheduled to make his first court appearance on Aug. 5 and is being held under a secured bond at the New Hanover County Detention Center.

The investigation remains active and ongoing, according to authorities.