Yeah, I I I do have a problem. I get drunk a lot. >> Okay. And I understand that. And you know, and I know in this >> Yeah. >> in the letter in the eyes of the law, >> Yeah. >> being being inebriated isn't isn't a valid >> No, I know. I know. >> On the morning of Wednesday, May 25th, 2022, special agents from the New Mexico Attorney General's Internet Crimes Against Children Unit served search warrants in Sandaval County, just north of Albuquerque. The man at the center of those warrants was one of the county's own. Robert Jesse Strand was 39 years old. He had worked for the Sandaval County Sheriff's Office since 2014 and had recently been made a detective. The case began with cyber tips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, reports of suspected child sexual abuse material linked to a single phone. By June 2021, agents had traced that material to Strand's personal device. Because the suspect was a sworn officer, the attorney general's office later said the case needed additional warrants and planning across several agencies before anyone approached him. Nearly a year later, Strand is asked to hand over his phones and his house key. He has not been arrested. He has read his rights and told that whether he talks is up to him. He agrees. The agents already have the backup records. The question is whether his explanation can survive them. This is the interrogation of Robert Strand. >> Yeah, I I I do have a problem. I get drunk a lot. >> Okay. And I understand that. And you know, and I know in this >> Yeah. >> in the letter in the eyes of the law >> being being inebriated isn't isn't a valid >> No, I know. I know. How you doing? Good. [clears throat] Special agent want you. Special agent in charge Clarence Gibson. Yes, sir. >> I have a search warrant for your residence. I have a search warrant for any electronic device that's on your person. >> So, you need to turn over any cell phone you have. Is this the only cell phone? >> Yeah. >> This is personal or which one's personal? Which one? >> Personal. >> Work. >> Work. >> Okay. >> I'm going to ask you if you want to sit down and talk with us about why we have a search warrant for your residence. This is up to you. It's totally up to you. I'm not going to, you know, we can't force you to to speak with us. If you want to speak with us, we'll go behind the door here and me and special agent Gibson will >> talk with you. All right, come on in. Like I said, we'll go behind the door so no one else can just go out and see right there for me. So, due to the fact, you know, this is an interview, okay? >> Um on tell you I what I do, okay, is I do internet crimes against children. Okay. There's been some reports of some incidents of uh some activity, >> okay, >> coming from your basically your electronic device in your possession >> and was reported to the National Center for Missing Exploited Children. I'm just here to get your side of the story. I'm not here to pass any >> No, you're fine. >> Um, so well, first of all, what you like everything else we have to do is call your adisement or rights. Okay. >> Okay. >> I'm going to give you a page to go to go along with me. All right. >> And the time now is 9:13. >> Yes, sir. So again, before we ask you any questions, >> you have to understand your rights. >> Okay? You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and be used against you in a court. You have the right to talk to a lawyer for advice before we ask you any questions and have him with you during questioning. If you cannot afford a lawyer, one will be formed for you before any questions if you wish. If you decide to answer questions now without a lawyer present, you still have the right >> Mhm. to stop answering at any time. You also have the right to stop answering at any time until you do talk to a lawyer. Do you understand these rights? >> Okay. What I just need you to do as a sign is just all you're signing for is that I've read you these rights and that you understand these rights. Then we'll get to the waiver. Okay. All right. Let's go through your advisement. Okay. your or your your waiver that you have been read or read to your statement of my rights and that you understand what your rights are that you're willing to make a statement and then answer questions that you do not do not have a lawyer with you at this time and I understand and know what I'm doing. No promises or threats have been made and no pressure or coercion of any kind have been used against me. Do you understand? >> Do you want to speak to us at this time? Okay. Just need you to sign right there. What do you bring in your rights? All right. So, like I said, we do have a search warrant for your residence. Before we go any further, is there Who's is there anyone currently at your house? Okay. >> We don't want to go breaking down your doors. Do you have a key to your house? >> Yes. >> Can you give us that key so we don't break in? >> Don't touch I >> I I've been by your house, >> right? >> Um so I understand there's a gate key. I just don't we just don't want to wreck >> any any stuff. >> You're fine. >> Cuz like I said, we're not here to And that's the housekeep. What about the gate? Is it the gate lock? What about your You have one dog or two dogs. >> There's two dogs and they're on that opposite side. So, okay. We just want to make sure. >> Can you? >> Yes. So, do I have a right to know who's reporting me for what? >> Yes. So, I'm going to get into that right now. We're going to get into that. And we had to get past this part before we could get to why we're why we're exactly. >> All right. So, um there's a thing called the National Center for Missing Exploited Children. >> So, what happened was some images and some GIFs were reported through the backup service. It's called Synchro is the backup service for like Verizon and stuff like that. Currently, your cell phone is through. [music] Yeah, your Verizon. So, when you first sign up for Verizon, you get this 3 month backup service for free. >> What happened was when you had your cell phone >> and you had that service, >> everything that you had on your phone got backed up. >> Okay. >> Okay. by by federal law, >> all providers, all what they call ESPs or electronic service providers are required by federal law that if they see anything that meets the state criteria or meets the criteria for or looks like child or child materials, >> they have the they have they have to report it to the National Center for Miss. >> So at that point there was five and so what happens when the National Center for Missing Exploited Children gets it? Mhm. >> these these reports they have to they have to look at okay where does the cell phone come back to who's >> who who's connected to the cell phone uh what emails and before we go any further you have any email addresses >> uh voices >> in the wind. >> Okay. So I will tell you that is the email that was attached to to these and this was also the same phone number that was attached to all those reports going forward. >> So um so it captures a lot of information. So like if you you know log in your phone with your email or whatever it's going to catch that and all that stuff gets reported up. In this case, there was five separate times. And so it basically lasted between January of 2021 and about uh March sometime in March. Mar like March 22nd, March 25th of 2020 21 is when we got the reports. >> I'm not saying that's when the backup happened. >> Did you get that? Did you get a new phone around January of 2021? >> I think so. I think that's when I bought it. I'm not sure. >> Um is it this current phone or is it a different phone? It's this phone. >> Okay. >> So, um it got a And are are any of your phones password protected? >> Yeah. >> And this one is your personal, correct? >> Yeah. >> Um is what's the password on this? >> 33 1 3 >> It's not biometrics or anything. Just just the pen. >> Okay. So, so when this all these images, so throughout the whole five uh cyber tips, there was 141 images. >> Mhm. >> And some of them are gifs. Do you know what a GIF is? It's like a little meme type thing where there's like a short video type thing. There's generally no sound. It's a clip. >> So, out of those 141, um, >> almost all of them were were child. So then I did a search warrant to synchron >> and they gave me pretty much everything that was backed up and in that backup was, [music] you know, pictures of you, some videos of you that that weren't child materials and like uh your guide licenses and stuff. I have PDFs and stuff like that, text me and stuff like that. So, I'm just here to find out how those images >> Mhm. >> were on your cuz we know they were on your phone cuz they got backed up. >> Mhm. >> How they got to your phone. Okay. And I'm just here to just to get your >> side. I'm not here to cast any >> I'm not I'm not I'm not a judge and I'm not a jury. I'm just here to get your side story. How did this happen? How make me understand is how this happened. Well, the there's probably nothing I can say that's going to make you understand, >> but >> well, let's just put I'll give you a little bit about my background is is I've been doing these now since 2009 >> and I'm not here and I've heard every different kind of this and that and I'm not here I'm all I want is and to be honest I'm going to be totally straight with you if you're totally straight with me and that's and I think that's just a respect thing, >> you know. Um, I mean that's the same thing I've always respected, especially the Agent Gibson in charge of Gibson because he's always been straight with me and I'm not that kind of guy. I'm not here to I'm just here to >> figure out what went what how that happened and to also go further to make sure that there's and ultimately to make sure there's no child that's that's that's that you that like you're telling me you're you're home loan so that that there's no one else at your house. that that makes me feel a little bit more easier that there's no one there. >> But we I mean we are going to talk about do you have contact with children and stuff like that. You know I understand you have a brother who has a niece and stuff like that but we'll get to that here in a minute. I just want to hear your side of why how this happened. >> I don't really know. >> Did you All right, let's let's just go. So, how did you first come in knowledge of these images that were out there and how they get how did they get to your phone? >> Uh, pretty much downloading. >> Okay. >> And then >> and when you say let's let's break it into adult or >> adult. >> Okay. >> That's how it started. >> Yeah. >> Okay. And then then what happened? You just found it and then got an interest in it >> a little bit. Okay. >> But then everything's deleted. So >> Okay. >> Um, so do you know when you got this phone exactly? >> I don't. >> Okay. >> And where did you buy where did you get that phone from? >> I went through Verizon. >> Verizon. Okay. So, so the time frame we were talking about, January 2021 to March 2021, those images and GIFs were on your phone. >> No. >> No. When did you get rid of them? >> Exactly. >> All >> Okay. >> I got rid of all right by the way. >> Okay. And when do you mean right right away? I just need to know because >> I want to make sure that the national center isn't reporting something that that isn't that it wasn't true, >> right? >> Um for one and just to find a time frame >> of when you had those >> I couldn't tell you. >> Okay. >> And I couldn't even tell you if if it was >> okay. >> I couldn't. >> Okay. So here here's here's here's the other question I have. When I got when I did that search warrant to to synchronose, which is the backup service for Verizon, >> um they didn't report any adult >> with it. >> Yeah. >> It's all child. >> Is it what you're interested in? >> No. >> Okay. So, when you you've never listen to how his account is built. It began, he says, with downloading adult material and then everything was deleted. Both of those claims can be checked, and the agent has already checked one. Before the account gets any further, Strand is told the backup held no adult material at all. And on the one detail he's asked to pin down, when he had the images, his answer is that he couldn't tell them. >> So, when you were going out and just looking for, how'd you go looking for it? >> Just on the internet. >> Okay. So, you'd get on the internet just on your phone. Just on the just on your phone. No other devices or anything? >> No, that's that's all I have. >> You don't have any computers or anything at the house or >> No. If I do it, it doesn't work. You guys can go through my house. >> Yeah, they're going to I mean, we we have to. It's part of >> the search warrant. >> Is your work phone password protected? >> Yes. >> What's the work? >> The same password. >> Same password. Same bit. I noticed you drove up in a vehicle. >> Yes. >> Is that your use work? Is there any iconic items in there? No other cell phones or anything? Okay. I'm going to look. >> Okay. And the the sheriff's department has given me permission to look. So just just want to make sure that there's nothing for for that. That's fine. Um um is there when we get to your just in the side thing about at your house and the search war house are there any safes? >> Yes. >> Okay. >> Yes. Have the combination. >> Okay. I was going to say I don't want we don't >> you guys can go through anything you want. You're not going to find anything. >> So, what's the combo for you? >> 33 1133. >> So, same thing. Is it just one safe or >> It's just one. >> And where's that located? >> It's located You go straight down the hallway to the back door and it drops down into the shop. It's >> So, it's in the shop. >> Yeah. Okay. want to let >> they know that. >> Yeah. We didn't want to break your We didn't want to break your safes. We didn't want to break your doors. We >> You guys can go through anything you want to go. >> So, just off the internet, was there any specific other sites that you went to that >> I I >> just late at night going through your phone looking for? Yeah, >> that type of deal. >> Yeah, I did get viruses. I don't know. >> Okay. All right. >> I I I like I said, I don't >> And you don't remember this time period you were doing it? Was it before 2021? Was it >> after 2020? >> Okay. Did you ever see those images that children? >> I did see them when I got on to >> Cloud. >> Uhhuh. >> Or whatever it is. >> Yeah. >> Not Cloud. Uh >> whatever the ride thing is and I >> Okay. I said you can go through whatever and then nothing else after that. Okay. So, is there any time that you're alone with your niece? >> No. >> And what's your niece's name? >> She's not even my niece. It's a buddy. >> Oh, I thought it was her brother. >> No. >> Okay. Everyone thought he was your brother. >> No. >> I was kind of wondering cuz he has a different last name. Alred. >> Well, nobody's in danger of >> I mean, I understand cuz I would do the same thing. >> Yeah. >> I I get it. >> So, cuz his name's Andrew, right? >> Andrew. >> Mhm. You've never been alone with his daughter? No. Okay. >> No. >> And the reason we asked that is because there's >> I understand >> pictures >> on social media of you guys together with the with with >> her. And you know her name? >> Uh okay. But never alone. >> No. >> Okay. Where does he live? Does he live? Someone said he >> Salman. >> Salman. Okay. Cuz we had a a little conflicting addresses. One where he showed he lived on Carolina with you and then Okay. >> Yeah. There was a conflicting address. And you understand why we did it the way we did this. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. I mean, we always have to be >> careful. >> Careful. I mean, you probably I mean, you understand this better than most anybody else that I've ever had to interview or do anything here. So, >> um, so once you saw it, you erased it. Mhm. >> Never had any interest in it. Um, you just got it when you went looking for other adult. >> Mhm. >> Um, so were you just looking at it and then you weren't were you saving any of the when you saw it or? No, >> I was probably pissed for. >> Okay. I mean, it happens. Just so I couldn't even tell you. >> Okay. So, just let you know a little bit about what's going to happen with the phones. We have forensic people, >> right? They take it down. >> They take Well, they they'll see everything, even stuff that you think you may have deleted. And this is just I'm just giving you your opportunity to become upfront about anything else that may be that that you're not telling us here that you may want to say different now than knowing that there are going to be full forensic exams done on this. Um, so, um, if there's anything that you need to change now or or tell me different now, >> I told you I downloaded just and >> Okay, >> once I realized that some things were bad, I erased it right away. >> Okay. I mean, I can't can't deny that. So, what is going to happen? We're going to wait for the exams >> to be done. >> Okay. >> Okay. Um I now I have nothing to do with what's going to happen with with the sheriff's department. Um but for for now currently right now um we're not arresting you >> unless you cuz he's going to start exam right now on these phones. If he finds anything on these phones I am like I said I'm going to be honest with you I find any >> or anything like that you will we will arrest you. >> Why not? >> Okay. All right. >> Like I said, everything that I've downloaded, >> whether would it be not this or that, I've seen it. I erase it. >> Okay. >> It's like, >> okay. And like I said, that's why I wanted to get your side and just be like, well, hey, >> yeah, >> he's I wanted to hear your understanding of it. And generally, that's what we do is we we don't automatically go in blind going, okay, let's let's let's get this guy. Um, none of the search warrants. >> Yeah. >> I mean, they do have your name, but they don't say where you work. >> Okay. >> Okay. I left that out >> purposely. >> Um, uh, I don't know if anybody in the courthouse knows you or anything, but they will be filed. >> Yeah. >> After today. >> Okay. >> Okay. So, just let you know. >> No, I know. >> But they do have your name. They don't have your date of birth, >> right? >> Or anything like that in them. >> I appreciate that. >> Um, >> and like I said, whatever you guys need, you can go through my house. There's nothing. That's what they're getting ready to do now. So, >> um, we we just wanted to again wanted to wait, talk to you, get your key just so we were breaking down doors >> cuz especially, you know, no one's home. >> We have a search warrant. We're going to give a bit of time. We're going to break down the door. >> Mhm. >> And we're not and just didn't want to do that to you. >> And then uh and then of course you mean you've been very upfront. You've given me pins and >> you gave us safe numbers so we didn't have to destroy your safes. said, "I don't I don't have nothing to hide now." >> Okay. >> I really don't. >> Okay. Which is pretty much everybody that that knew you that I talked to, you said this is probably how how would it would go that you'd probably be just this is being >> Well, I said anything that was there that I seen after, I would just erase it. And >> and you can't tell me exactly. >> I I don't I don't >> when that occurred. I mean, generally, you could place it around an event. Yeah. >> Was it like Christmas of 2020? Thanksgiving? >> I can't I can't >> Okay. Was it or like was it was it 2021? Was it 2020? Was it >> So, I got a bad problem. Sometimes I drink a little too much. >> Yeah. >> You know, and once I do that, I kind of just go off and I can't don't realize a lot of things till the next day. >> Okay. >> And it's just like >> Okay. You think this was during one of those times? >> Oh, yeah. Yeah, cuz like I said, as soon as I seen it, I'll erase it. >> Okay. All right. >> Like, yeah, you might see stuff that's been erased on there, but >> Okay. And at least with >> but >> if we find stuff that's been deleted, >> there's nothing on there >> that's going to give us a time frame at least. So when that >> cuz at least when you delete something, there's a there's a date >> right >> and a time >> that's been when that was deleted. >> It'll also show a date and time when that was >> uploaded. or when it's downloaded from whatever site you're looking at and and and downloaded to there. >> You got anything? >> No, sir. I think you're good. So, we'll end this interview at 9:37. Okay. And uh thank you for definitely speaking with us and and again um I'm going to turn you over to I think they're going to have some probably speak with you. You're um as I understand it, they're not terminating you. They're just going to put you on administrative leave. >> So how does that work? >> What's that? Well, let's see. >> You know, I said I didn't deny that they were there when I seen them. Yes. >> And obviously he raised. >> Yes, sir. >> How How does that work? >> We're going to take So, let this So, this is how it'll work. >> We could I mean, you're right. We could say that um you you did do it >> or you did have it on your phone. >> Yeah. >> So, let's say we see a download, >> right? the date is, let's say, just throwing out a date. It's not necessarily the date. Let's say it's January blah blah blah >> of 2021. >> Erased a few days later. >> Mhm. >> Oh, shoot. It's on there. >> Mhm. >> No other downloads. >> Mhm. >> After that, I have to believe your story. >> Yeah. >> Cuz it it matches to what you're telling me. >> Yeah. >> That matches. So, we'll take your forensics and compare it to what you what you're saying here. No, >> cuz I'm not here to say what you're telling me isn't the truth. >> No. >> There's no way for me to do that cuz I wasn't there at your house. I didn't see that to go on. >> And then so if it's this one snapshot >> deal >> and then there's an erase right after. >> Mhm. >> Like right after I'm going to I'll go forward to my prosecutors and be like this is what he told me. This is what the forensic show >> that it it it it confirms his story, >> right? It confirms what he told me. >> Mhm. >> Probably nothing happens >> cuz I have to believe what you're telling me. >> Now, we're also going to look at was there adult >> mixed in with this child. If that also confirms your story, >> okay, it was I it got mixed in with the rest of it. I was drunk, didn't know what it is. Oh, okay. And it might have got in there. Okay. We're going to look at the totality of everything. Compare it to what this interview what you told me today. And then that's where we go from there. >> Yeah. I I I do have a problem. I get drunk a lot. >> Okay. And I understand that. And you know, and I know in this >> Yeah. >> in the letter in the eyes of the law >> being being inebriated isn't it isn't a valid >> No, I know. I know. >> Um but um it's going to be a >> The interview is over and Strand reopens it to ask how not denying it plays out. The agent gives him a specific test. One download erased days later, nothing after. If the forensics show that, the story holds. Now, set that against what he was told at the start. 141 files across five separate reports. And his only explanation for why he can't date any of it is drinking, which the agent has just told him isn't a legal defense. >> It's going to be a process. I'm not going to tell you that. It's going to be forensics. see what we got. Let's see what happened. >> Is it does it does it coincide with the NE to the National C Center's missing exploiting children's cyber tips? >> Mhm. >> You know, um I mean there was a lot there was 141. >> Yeah. >> Everything, [snorts] >> right? >> Just hey, this is what he told us. This is what forensics showed us. And again, it ultimately it's going to be up to our prosecutors >> what they want to do. >> No. No. I get it. I do have a question. Um, I was speaking with the lieutenant outside. You do have a work laptop. Where is that? >> It's at the office. >> It's at the office. >> Do you have a password for that work laptop? >> Oh, I can write it down for you. Okay. There's the bottom right here. >> Yeah. So it's blaze narrow 244 exclamation point. >> So again like I said we will uh um whatever happens on that side we have no control. What what we have control over is what happens on our side. Again it's going to go to prosecutions. This is what we have. This is what was told to us. They'll look at it. They'll look at the statement. They'll look at this video, this interview. They'll look at everything in totality and then then we'll move forward from that. Okay. >> All right. So, before we get too far, I'm going to give I'm also going to leave you um with a copy. So, there will be a copy of this search warrant and what was taken from the house >> at the house. You know, it's called the return to inventory. >> We're going to do one here for that also. >> Okay. >> Okay. Here's the search warrant for your cell phone and anything on your on your on your person. >> Do you have any questions for me? >> No. So, >> I mean I think I pretty much have explained >> you guys can't and we're not technologically that advanced here. So, you guys can download everything off that phone everything and I get to come back. So I have a phone or >> that phone will be we can't give you the phone back until it's cleared. >> Oh >> now if we he downloads we go through the phone nothing on let's say even in so electronics basically goes in ones and zeros >> right >> so there's this space called unallocated space. So when you delete something it goes to what's called unall allocated space. Right. >> Um and so once we go through that and we find >> there's nothing on the phone. >> Yeah. >> Like say zero. Not even any of your past deleted stuff. Let's say >> well I mean we already know there's going to be deleted stuff. So >> So once that's done >> it you can't go in and you can't take >> that stuff out and then turn around and give you the stuff we don't want to take out. It is almost impossible because that stuff does >> um reside in unallocated space. You can't take it out. >> Well, so to turn the phone back over, it would still be an unallocated space. So us liabilitywise, it would be like us turning over. >> No, I know. >> Um child back over to you, but we can't do that. >> But no, my question was so I just need to go get another phone. >> Yes. >> Okay. >> Oh, I had a question. over the There's a Speaking of the house on the north side there where their dogs are kept. There's like a slide child slide. What What's that for? >> That was from the owners that lived there before. >> Okay. So, prior owners. How long have you lived there? >> Since 2005. >> Yeah. My sister and brother-in-law lived there. >> Oh, beforehand. >> Yeah. >> Okay. that that whole deal was kind of just closed off and I left it for the dogs and >> Okay. Yeah. I just wondered cuz you said the only occupant that I remembered when one of the days I was >> there I saw the slide and I was just >> I've always had dogs so I just leave it. So wonder dogs. >> My one is a shepherd and the other is a a body. Okay. >> They're nice. >> Yeah. Okay. Okay. >> Well, I saw the shepherd. >> Well, they're they're they're nice. Um, >> but as long as they're on that side of the fence, we'll be fine. >> Yeah. >> Okay. All right. >> So, how long do I need to wait you guys think before I go back home? >> Um, once we're done here and giving you you're free to And what's your >> I don't I don't want to go over there. I mean, I can go over there, but I don't want to go over there and with you guys. >> Yeah, you Well, yeah, we we can't have that either. So, >> yeah. >> Um, can I just take you a few hours? Can I grab my truck? You guys can search through the whole truck. I don't care. >> And it probably been searched through. Is it That's the white one that's inside the property. Yeah. So, that would probably have already been >> Okay. >> We can text them and let them know if they can clear the truck. >> Yeah. >> You'll see there's not a lot in the house. It's pretty pretty empty. You said something that there might have be a a laptop that doesn't work anymore. >> I don't know if if it's still there or if I got rid of it or >> Okay, >> that's I'm trying to be, you know, honest with you guys on everything. So, I don't know. I think it's unlocked. If it's not, the key should be hanging up right when you walk in the house. There should be little key. Okay. That goes also like that. Just this is just the for we want to make sure you get all the forms that we use just so there's no before turning back over to talking about your supervisors or whatever. Um is there any any questions you have for us? >> No. Um you guys are let me know everything. >> Yes. >> All right. >> Yes. I mean, if you know, like I said, if we clear something that we took, we we'll definitely get back with you to let you know that we that we cleared it and you you could have it back or or whatever. So, um >> I'm just going to assume I'm probably not getting my phone back. >> That's your your personal one. Probably not. that deleted stuff is still still like I said in the um in the unallocated space. >> Mhm. >> We just cuz we just can't there's no physical >> way, right? >> Other than just wiping the entire just zeroing it out and wiping all data out and then it's just it's a worthless >> Yeah. >> It'd be easier just to go buy a new one. >> Okay, cool. That's what I would need to know. >> Yeah. Um, guess we're done here. We're going to go look in in in your in your unit to make sure there's no electronics there. >> Again, that it's totally separate from this here. This search warrant, this search warrant here was just for your person, what electronic items you carried on your person. >> You don't have any thumb drives or anything like that on you? No. Okay. >> No, I mean, you can you can do whatever >> if you would mind just so I can clear it cuz you know, prosecutors may ask, "Hey, did he have anything on him? any Can you uh Is that your wallet? Yeah. >> Can you open your wallet for me real quick? Just to make sure there's nothing in there. You look through whatever. >> I just want to make sure cuz as cuz you know um >> there's no thumb drives. >> Thumb drives and SD cards can be hidden super super. And I do appreciate you um being honest and and coming and talking to us. I mean it just it sucks cuz no matter if it gets cleared or if it doesn't get cleared then this is going to >> Yeah, that's what sucks. >> All right, sir. You're free to go for totally end. >> Strand was told he was free to go. That same Wednesday, he was arrested. The attorney general's office announced that agents executing the warrants had found images of child sexual abuse on his devices and the sheriff's office placed him on administrative leave. A grand jury later indicted him. The case never went to trial. Strand pleaded no contest to possession of child sexual exploitation material and three counts of manufacturing it. At his sentencing hearing on September 4th, 2025, prosecutors told the court that investigators had recovered more than 3,000 images and videos from his devices and that 15 victims had been identified. Judge Christopher Perez sentenced him to 6 years in prison to be followed by 5 years of supervised probation and lifetime registration as a sex offender. The children identified in this case are real people. at sentencing. Some of them and parents speaking for those too young to speak sent letters and video statements to the court. They described strangers who recognized them and images that keep circulating years after the abuse itself. Their names are not part of the story. They are the reason it was told. If you have information about a child being exploited, you can report it to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children's Cyber Tip line. If you value real police interrogations, critical moments, and the investigative strategies that uncover the truth, subscribe to Evidence Lab Interrogation and turn on notifications so you don't miss the next interrogation. Until next time, stay observant because in the interrogation room, every word matters.