Child sexual abuse material reports surge in North Dakota

Investigators and prosecutors work to keep up with growing number of cyber tips

Mar. 28, 2026 at 1:51pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

An extreme close-up photograph of a shattered cell phone screen reflecting a faint red light, conceptually illustrating the disturbing nature of child sexual abuse material without depicting any graphic content.The surge in cyber tips about child sexual abuse material in North Dakota exposes the growing scale of online exploitation of minors.Fargo Today

The number of cyber tips related to child sexual abuse material received by the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation has surged in recent years, reaching a record 2,698 in 2025. Investigators say the increase is due to social media companies getting better at detecting and reporting this activity, rather than more crimes being committed. However, the growing volume of cases is putting a strain on law enforcement resources as they work to build airtight cases before bringing charges.

Why it matters

The rise in child sexual abuse material reports highlights the ongoing challenge of protecting vulnerable children from online exploitation. While the increase may reflect improved detection, it also raises concerns about the scale of the problem and the ability of law enforcement to effectively investigate and prosecute these cases.

The details

The North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation received 2,698 cyber tips related to child sexual abuse material in 2025, more than 1,100 more tips than the previous year and a staggering increase from just 166 tips in 2016. As of March 2026, investigators have already received 501 tips. The top companies reporting this material are Instagram, Snapchat, Discord, X Corp, and Google. Investigators triage cases based on urgency, with those involving immediate child safety concerns being prioritized. However, building airtight cases can take months, and prosecutors must weigh multiple factors when making sentencing recommendations, including the age of victims and the nature of the material involved.

  • In 2016, the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation received 166 cyber tips related to child sexual abuse material.
  • By 2025, the number of cyber tips had surged to 2,698, the largest single-year jump on record.
  • As of March 12, 2026, investigators have received 501 cyber tips so far this year.

The players

North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation

The state agency that oversees the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and receives cyber tips related to child sexual abuse material.

Heather Hames

A detective with the Cass County Sheriff's Office who investigates these cases.

Kimberlee Hegvik

The Cass County State's Attorney, who acknowledges that while her office takes these cases seriously, sentencing decisions are ultimately up to the judge.

Patrick Rooney

A registered sex offender on supervised probation who was found to have over 100 files of child sexual abuse material and will serve a minimum of three years in prison.

Dillan Mcelveney

An individual who had approximately 111 unique files of child sexual abuse material on his cell phone and was sharing material through multiple messaging apps, including six different Kik accounts. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison but will first serve 360 days in the Cass County jail.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We have been seeing a pretty steady increase in recent years. I would expect that we will probably continue to see an increase as well.”

— Heather Hames, Detective, Cass County Sheriff's Office

“These cases — there is nothing that a court can impose that will make a child victim whole again. We do the best that we can with the evidence that we have and hope that the judge will hand down a sentence that is fair and just and reflects the magnitude of the actions the person has committed.”

— Kimberlee Hegvik, Cass County State's Attorney

“These cases are rewarding. It's just rewarding to be able to help children and being able to work cases that are really important.”

— Heather Hames, Detective, Cass County Sheriff's Office

What’s next

The FBI recently issued a national alert warning parents about a sharp increase in violent online networks, often referred to as '764,' that target children through gaming platforms, social media, and messaging apps, manipulating or coercing them into producing child sexual abuse material. The bureau said it is currently investigating more than 350 subjects nationwide, with all 56 FBI field offices involved.

The takeaway

The surge in child sexual abuse material reports in North Dakota highlights the ongoing challenge of protecting vulnerable children from online exploitation. While improved detection by social media companies is contributing to the increase, the growing volume of cases is straining law enforcement resources as they work to build strong cases before bringing charges. Prosecutors and judges must carefully weigh the severity of these crimes and ensure that sentences reflect the magnitude of the harm caused to child victims.