Local pastor sentenced to 10 years in prison for child sexual abuse materials
GRANITE FALLS, N.C. – A local pastor has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for having and receiving child sexual abuse materials. 53-year-old Ashley James Crouse was sentenced Thursday. When he is released from prison, he will be supervised by law enforcement for the rest of his life. He has also been ordered to register as a sex offender after he is released from prison.
Investigators say Crouse used his church’s computer to access, view and download child sexual abuse materials (formerly know as child pornography).
In April 2023, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children forwarded a tip to law enforcement that a Dropbox account user had uploaded videos containing child sexual abuse materials. Investigators determined that Dropbox user was Crouse. On November 3, 2023, police executed a search warrant at Crouse’s home and the church where he worked.
Detectives say Crouse admitted to them that he had been downloading and collecting child sexual abuse materials for five to six years and viewing the materials at church while “multi-tasking” and completing church business.
A forensic examination of Crouse’s church computer and other digital devices revealed that Crouse shared child sexual abuse materials and links to child sexual abuse materials through the Telegram app. Investigators say he also used AI and a software program to make child and other pornography. In total, Crouse had more than 1,200 videos and 450 images depicting the sexual abuse of children. Also on the church computer, investigators found that Crouse maintained a book that outlines in detail how to sexually abuse children. The forensic examiner further found evidence that Crouse had installed an anti-forensic software program on his church computer, which he used to permanently delete files and folders.
On August 21, 2024, Crouse pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography that involved a minor under the age of 12 years, and receiving child pornography. Crouse remains in federal custody. He will be transferred to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons once he is assigned to a federal prison.
The FBI, the SBI, the Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office, and the Hickory Police Department participated in this investigation. The case was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte.
