Former Nebraska police investigator faces federal child sex abuse material charges
NORTH PLATTE, Neb. (KNOP) - A former North Platte police investigator who worked internet crimes against children cases has resigned following his arrest on federal charges of possessing child sex abuse materials.
The North Platte Police Department released an official statement on Wednesday, clarifying the timeline of the investigation and confirming that Deal resigned immediately following his arrest Monday.
According to a release by Public Information Officer Sergeant J. Johnson, the North Platte Police Department was first notified on Aug. 4 that the FBI had served a search warrant at Deal’s residence. At that time, Deal was immediately placed on administrative leave.
Because the federal criminal complaint and search warrant were sealed, the department was not provided with specific details regarding the allegations. On Monday the FBI informed the department that a federal warrant had been issued and Deal was arrested. He resigned shortly thereafter.
The federal criminal complaint was unsealed on Tuesday afternoon, allowing the department to review the specific allegations for the first time.
According to the federal complaint, Deal first came to the attention of FBI investigators last year following a CyberTip. The parent company of Cash App flagged a Bitcoin transaction from Deal’s account to a digital wallet known for purchasing child sexual abuse materials and reported it to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children.
During the search of Deal’s home on Aug. 4, investigators seized a computer, an iPad and an iPhone. A digital forensics search of the devices uncovered a history of accessing at least 48
encrypted TOR network addresses containing child sex abuse materials, along with 13 additional sites that had already been shut down. Ultimately, investigators found 82 files of child sex abuse materials on the seized devices.
Deal had been employed with the North Platte Police Department for 21 years and previously served as a task force officer with Homeland Security Investigations, where he handled child exploitation cases.
Court documents show that investigators consulted North Platte Police Chief Steve Reeves, who confirmed Deal was not tasked with undercover operations and “should not be working child exploitation cases from his home computer or residence.”
Former Miami-Dade firefighter found guilty of sexually abusing children — again
By Grethel Aguila
August 31, 2026 6:46 PM
Fernando Castano Miami-Dade Corrections and Rehabilitation
A former Miami-Dade firefighter was found guilty on Monday of sexually abusing children in a new trial stemming from an appeals court overturning his convictions. Fernando Castano, 52, was convicted by a six-person jury after more than three hours of deliberation. The allegations against Castano surfaced after he was arrested in connection to a 2021 domestic dispute with his now ex-wife.
In 2022, Castano was convicted of a slew of charges linked to him allegedly sexually abusing the children — and pulling a gun on his then-wife during the dispute. Miami-Dade Circuit Court Judge Ellen Sue Venzer, who presided over the retrial, had sentenced Castano to life in prison.
The ex-firefighter, who worked the 2021 Surfside condo collapse, blamed stress from responding to the tragedy for pulling the weapon. Facing the jury, prosecutor Natalie Snyder said the sexual abuse had been going on for years, so there were no injuries on the underage victims. But several pieces in that evidence pointed to Castano’s guilt. The victims testified in court about the abuse. Castano’s wife was aware of the allegations. The abuse, Snyder said, was confirmed through text messages.
Use your common sense,” Snyder said. “There’s no other explanation.” The prosecutor, in her closing argument, urged the jury to find Castano guilty. “This nightmare, this secret has finally bubbled over,” Snyder said. The sexual abuse allegations, defense attorney Jude Faccidomo said, were like a “game of telephone.” He said the victims concocted the abuse because they were in fear of Castano. Looking at the jury, Faccidomo said he argued that the allegations against Castano were not proven beyond a reasonable doubt. “There were things that came out on the stand that do not paint my client in the best light,” Faccidomo said. “That is not why you are here.”
Why was the case back in court? In May 2025, the Third District Court of Appeal reversed Castano’s convictions on the sex-abuse charges, citing how prosecutors introduced the testimony of Castano’s pastor. Castano had been convicted of sexual battery, lewd and lascivious molestation of a child and lewd and lascivious exhibition.
During Castano’s original trial, the pastor testified that Castano told her he had “sexual encounters” with one of the underage victims. The pastor, according to the court’s opinion, spoke to Castano’s then-wife, who “confirmed the abuse.” Conversations with members of clergy are often privileged and cannot be introduced as evidence against a defendant. The appeals court also ruled that Venzer, the trial judge, incorrectly allowed the pastor’s testimony. That testimony, the court found, was not harmless error, meaning that it could have led to Castano’s conviction. Judge Venzer had found that Castano’s communication with the pastor was not privileged because Castano and his pastor met at a football field during a practice and not in private. But the appeals court said Castano had an expectation of privacy, focusing on how he did not intend for his conversation with the pastor to be disclosed to others aside from his then-wife.
Former Stevens Point Boy Scout volunteer arrested for sexual assault
ORIGINAL STORY:
Steven Lorang was taken into custody Aug. 31 following an interview with detectives from the Plover Police Department. The investigation began in July when police received historical information about an adult who had groomed and sexually assaulted a juvenile victim approximately 15 years earlier.
Detectives gathered information and conducted several interviews that identified other potential victims. During questioning, Lorang admitted to engaging in grooming and sexual activity with a juvenile he met through his affiliation as a volunteer with Boy Scout Pack 297 in Stevens Point.
Lorang was booked into the Portage County Jail and is being referred to the Portage County District Attorney's office on several counts related to first degree sexual assault of a child, child enticement, repeated sexual assault of the same child and sexual assault of a child by a person who volunteers with children.
Judge denies bail for Anne Arundel County sergeant accused of assaulting teen at Severna Park home
The Anne Arundel County Police sergeant accused of raping a minor will remain in jail after a judge denied bail Tuesday.
James Shoults, 59, is being held on seven criminal counts, including second-degree rape, sexual abuse of a minor and child abuse.
According to charging documents, the 31-year veteran of the department, sexually assaulted a 16-year-old who thought of him like a father figure after getting her intoxicated at his Severna Park home on Jan. 10.
The girl's mother reported the incident to the police in late July. Shoults was arrested and charged Monday.
Court documents allege the officer communicated with the girl on his police-issued phone.
According to the documents, on the night of Jan. 10, the victim went to Shoults' house after hanging out. The victim says he gave her alcoholic drinks.
Child advocate Adam Rosenberg, a former sex crimes prosecutor, said a few things jumped out to him when reviewing this case.
"It's a reminder that most sexual abuse of children occurs from someone who the child and the family knows and trusts," Rosenberg told WBAL-TV 11 News. "That stranger danger really is a myth from the 1970s."
Rosenberg said the child abuse charge indicates there was a custodial relationship and called the allegations around alcohol a grooming "red flag."
"Abuse occurs because somebody's able to gain the trust, not just of the child, but the whole family, and unfortunately, in too many cases, they use that trust to be able to exploit and abuse the child there," he said.
Two people who identified themselves as the defendant's family members attended Tuesday's bail review.
Shoults is due back in court at the end of the month.
