⏱ 2 min read
Christopher Lawhon, 36, and Tajareia Blackwell, 25, two passengers on separate cruises, have been charged with child sex abuse offenses after returning to the Jacksonville cruise port. Lawhon, from South Carolina, allegedly produced and attempted to produce child sex abuse material, while Blackwell, from North Carolina, is accused of transporting such material. The incidents occurred on international waters, with Lawhon returning on May 7, 2026, and Blackwell on June 8, 2026.
According to court documents, Lawhon had stored multiple surreptitiously-recorded video files on his cellphone, including one of a minor male child in a bathroom stall. Lawhon admitted to federal agents that he had an interest in voyeurism and typically recorded people in the bathroom. Blackwell, who had pending charges in North Carolina for indecent liberties with children and statutory rape, was found to have received child sex abuse material from a 14-year-old victim on February 22, 2026.
The investigations were conducted by Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the Statesville Police Department in North Carolina. If convicted, Lawhon faces a minimum of 15 years to a maximum of 30 years in federal prison, while Blackwell faces a minimum of 5 years to a maximum of 20 years.
The cases highlight the ongoing efforts of law enforcement agencies to combat child sex abuse and exploitation, particularly in cases where perpetrators attempt to use international waters to evade detection.
📋 Key Facts
- Crime: Sex Crimes
- Defendant: Florida
- Location: US
- Source: DOJ Press Release
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