Longmont man arrested on multiple charges, including sexual exploitation of a child

A Longmont man is facing multiple charges, including sexual exploitation of a child, after local law enforcement officers, acting on tips from the Colorado Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, arrested him over the weekend. Brandon Scott COX, 29, was booked into the Boulder County Jail on six charges related to possession and distribution of child sexual abuse material. According to the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office, COX is being held without bail until a judicial officer can review the case.

The investigation into COX’s activities began after the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children provided information about the distribution of illegal material to the Colorado ICAC Task Force. The ensuing investigation, which would ultimately result in COX’s arrest, utilized a series of court orders on several electronic service providers. This strategic approach allowed authorities to gather enough probable cause to execute a search warrant at COX’s residence in March of this year, where they discovered additional incriminating evidence against him.

The task force benefiting from this coordinated effort includes members of the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office, Longmont Department of Public Safety, Boulder Police Department, and Boulder County District Attorney’s Office. These entities are part of the digital forensics unit that specializes in high-tech crimes and serves not only to analyze evidence but also to provide the critical expertise often needed to translate the digital trails left behind by such criminal acts.

Among the charges against COX are two counts of sexual exploitation of a child for distributing sexually exploitative material and four other counts relating to possession of child sexual abuse videos, a harsh reality that law enforcement officials are determined to eradicate. This explicit statement of charges underscores the seriousness of COX’s alleged actions and clearly articulates a community’s refusal to accept such despicable violations of innocence.

Several agencies assisted in the investigation, including the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office, the Longmont Department of Public Safety, the digital forensics experts at Boulder County Digital Forensics Lab, Longmont SWAT, the Boulder County District Attorney’s Office, and the Boulder Police Department.

The ICAC Task Force, of which Colorado ICAC is a member, represents a nationwide network of law enforcement professionals dedicated to combating online crimes against children. These crimes too often manifest in the darkest corners of the Internet, underscoring the need for such collaborative efforts to protect the vulnerable.