THIBODAUX, La. ( WGNO) — A Thibodaux man was sentenced in a child sexual abuse material case on Wednesday, Sept. 18. According to U.S. Attorney Duane Evans, 28-year-old Simon Paul Adams was sentenced after pleading guilty to possessing child sexual abuse material.

A local case involving child sexual abuse material illustrates a new battleground for investigators, as some of the images didn't involve actual children, but broke the law just the same. It's what happens when technology becomes treacherous.

The North Carolina law, along with legislation adopted by other states, recognizes research that shows coming to terms with child sexual abuse can take many years, with many survivors only able to come forward as adults.

A Stillwater man was arrested on Sept. 16 following an investigation into child sex abuse images. Deane Pratt, 40, is facing multiple charges stemming from a cyber tip from January 2024.

North Carolina's highest court is weighing whether a state law that gave adults who were victims of child sexual abuse two additional years to seek civil damages is constitutional or not.

Advocates for victims say many never come forward because they have only three years to file a lawsuit. State lawmakers tried to change that, but churches and schools challenged their solution as unconstitutional.