The DeKalb County (Ala.) Sheriff's Department today announced three arrests in connection with the sexual abuse of children.
In the first instance, the sheriff’s office was alerted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation that James Hulgan, 43, of Valley Head, Ala., had been having inappropriate activity involving minors on a popular social media account called Kik Messenger. Kik Messenger, commonly called Kik, is an instant messaging mobile app that can be used on both androids and iPhones. On this app, users do not have to link their phone numbers or use their real names.
After an in-depth investigation by the FBI and the sheriff’s office, a search warrant was executed on Monday at Hulgan's home on County Road 751 in Valley Head. Hulgan was subsequently arrested and charged with two counts of possession of obscene matter containing visual depiction of a person under 17 years of age. Hulgan, who is currently a registered sex offender in DeKalb County, is being held in the DeKalb County jail awaiting bond.
In the other case, DeKalb County investigators started looking last week into a possible sexual abuse case involving children under the age of 12. During the course of the investigation, James Michael Perego (right) was arrested at his residence on County Road 723 in Henagar on May 11 and charged with four counts of sexual abuse of a child under 12 as well as sodomy 2nd. He is currently being held in the DeKalb County jail awaiting bond.
Another person of interest, James Lee Britton Jr. (left), was located and arrested at his residence on Mississippi St in Henagar. Britton was charged with three counts of sexual abuse of a child under 12 and resisting arrest. Britton is currently being held in the DeKalb County jail and is awaiting bond.
DeKalb Sheriff Jimmy Harris thanked the FBI and his own investigators for their arrests in these cases. He warned parents to be aware of what apps and social media their children were using on their phones.
"It is always tough working a case when children are involved," said the sheriff. "I am proud of our investigators in their hard work and the level of integrity it takes dealing with cases like this. “
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