Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
MORGAN — A Morgan County man who police say pretended to be a federal agent has been arrested in a disturbing case of sex abuse.
Jeffrey Curtis Horrocks, 52, was booked into jail on Monday for investigation of sodomy on a child, three counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, sex abuse of a child and dealing in harmful materials to a minor.
According to a police affidavit, a boy was questioned Monday about violating a younger girl. Both children were under the age of 8. As investigators attempted to discover where this type of behavior was learned, the boy talked about spending a lot of time at Horrocks' home.
"The child described Jeff as his best friend and he does not like leaving his side," the affidavit states.
The boy told police that one time, Horrocks showed him his security system that included multiple cameras throughout his house, and showed him a video of him having sex with his wife, according to the affidavit. "The child stated this video was seen by accident but then Horrocks let him continue to watch the video and other pornographic videos."
The boy then told police how Horrocks would share videos with other people, and described sexual abuse by Horrocks as the boy watched the videos, police wrote in the report.
"The child stated to the effect that Horrocks would film some of these interactions ... on a black phone and also stated to the effect that the 'friends' had watched from the computer camera," the affidavit says.
Deputies served a search warrant on Horrocks' residence Monday afternoon. On one of his electronic devices, they found images of suspected child pornography that were filmed on his security cameras in the house and kept on his phone, according to the affidavit.
"There are still several more electronic files that were seized that need to be investigated. It was discovered that the details the boy gave describing the house and items within were completely accurate," the affidavit notes.
Horrocks initially denied the allegations and then agreed to a polygraph test.
"The interviewer stated that Horrocks failed the test and eventually he admitted (to sexually abusing the boy)," according to the police affidavit. "Horrocks also declined ever filming or distributing any child pornographic material."
Horrocks admitted to abusing the boy under the guise of sex education, according to police.
As deputies continued to investigate, they also learned that Horrocks "has been spreading the image that he is a federal agent to the community, to the extent of printing fake certificates hanging on his walls, using realistic-looking badges, and having clothing to match the character. The suspect admitted this was a facade he invented to feel like a hero, and even his wife believes these stories. This has given him a position of trust from the public, especially the victim boy who stated the suspect was his best friend," investigators wrote in the affidavit.
The Morgan County Sheriff's Office on Tuesday said the investigation, which now includes assistance from the FBI and the Internet Crimes Against Children task force, is just in the beginning stages.
Investigators fear there are additional victims, and hope now that Horrocks is being held without bail, others will contact the sheriff's office at 801-829-0590.
