A laundry list of sexual exploitation charges involving minor children have been leveled against a 58-year-old northern Sampson County man who turned himself into authorities Monday morning.
Jack Andrew Lucas, of 6589 Newton Grove Hwy., remained in jail without bond late Tuesday afternoon facing a total 37 charges, many of them felonies. He, along with his wife, Irene Lucas, walked into the Sampson Sheriff’s Office Monday, turned themselves in at the Magistrate’s Office and were charged, according to Capt. Marcus Smith.
Jack Lucas is facing 13 first degree sexual exploitation of a minor charges, an additional 13 third-degree sexual exploitation of a minor offenses, along with six counts of misdemeanor animal cruelty, and two counts each of misdemeanor liquor with no permit, possession/sell of alcoholic beverage with no permit, possession/sell of non-taxed alcohol and conspiracy.
The alcohol-related charges, Smith said, were leveled by the North Carolina Alcohol Law Enforcement after agents were called to the Lucas’ home because a liquor still had been discovered on the property.
Irene Lucas was also charged by ALE with six counts of misdemeanor animal cruelty along with two counts misdemeanor liquor with no permit, possession/sell of alcoholic beverage with no permit, possession/sell of non-taxed alcohol and conspiracy. She was released under an unsecured bond.
Jack Lucas’ arrest comes on the heels of an investigation launched by the Sheriff’s Department on Feb. 17, following a referral from the county’s Department of Social Services alleging child abuse.
Smith said investigators conducted a search of the Newton Grove Highway home on Feb. 20 and seized electronic devices as part of their probe.
Nearly two months later, on April 22, a second search warrant was obtained and the Lucas residence was once again searched.
Smith said the second search warrant was issued because “evidence gathered during the initial search led investigators to believe more evidence could be hidden on the property.”
It was learned, he noted, that a liquor still was also on the property, leading to ALE agents being called in to assist.
Smith said the couple was not on the property at the time of the second search, and the property, the captain stressed, appeared to have been abandoned as well as a large number of animals.
During that second search, officers discovered four dogs, 57 chickens, 10 ducks, two geese, two goats, three cats, two donkeys, two ponies and 10 pigs, all apparently abandoned for some time.
Smith said the animals are currently being cared for by volunteers and are being sheltered in safe locations.
While investigators didn’t want to divulge specifics of the case, they did confirm that the probe centers around the involvement of two juveniles under the age of 18.
Smith also offered an explanation, when asked, about the difference between the first and third degree charges of sexual exploitation, noting that the first degree charges are related to the production/manufacturing of “child sexually abusive material” and the third degree offenses are related to possession of the material.
No further details, the captain said, would be released at this time because it is an ongoing investigation.
“More charges are expected,” Smith said.