Thanks to the hard work and dedication of numerous UCSO deputies, detectives, and Crime Laboratory personnel, a dangerous sexual predator now resides in the Union County Detention Center under a two-million-dollar secured bond. Late last week, convicted sex offender Thomas Long of Monroe was arrested as a part of an ongoing, multi-state child exploitation investigation. Long was convicted of multiple hands-on sexual offenses in 2016 and was required to register as a sex offender in Union County upon his release from prison. The current investigation that led to Long’s most recent arrest began in early January 2024 when UCSO detectives began working with law enforcement officials out of Utah who reported that Long was soliciting sexually explicit material from an underage child in their jurisdiction.

UCSO personnel conducted a search warrant at Long’s Union County residence earlier this month resulting in his arrest and the seizure of numerous electronic devices used during the online exploitation offenses. UCSO digital forensics experts will now examine the seized devices in our Crime Laboratory to search for and extract additional evidence. Based on the evidence gathered thus far, detectives have learned that Long was actively soliciting sexually explicit material from numerous underage children across the United States prior to his arrest. Detectives have also learned that Long was using multiple online identifiers that were not disclosed as part of his requirements to register as a convicted sex offender.

Long has been charged with numerous felony offenses including Disclosure of Private Images, Second Degree Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, Failure to Register as a Sex Offender (failure to report online identifiers), and Solicitation of a Child by Computer. This investigation is ongoing and additional criminal charges are likely.

Sheriff Eddie Cathey adds “The defendant in this case has proven by his actions that he is an extreme danger to the public. I am thankful that our investigative team could work with Utah officials to build a case leading to his arrest. From the initial investigation to the ongoing examinations of the devices seized, the results of this case are just another example of the comprehensive law enforcement services provided by the professional men and women of this office”.

Anyone with information pertaining to this case is asked to call the Union County Sheriff’s Office at (704)283-3789 or Union County Crime Stoppers at (704)283-5600. Tips can also be submitted through our free smartphone app which can be downloaded from your phone’s app store.