A Lewisville man is headed to prison after getting caught in a Rowan County undercover operation that targeted adults accused of soliciting minors online. Eric Lukjanczuk, 43, was convicted of felony solicitation of a child by computer and, according to court paperwork and a sheriff's office release, received a sentence of 5 to 15 months in state prison. He is required to register as a sex offender for 30 years.
Guilty Verdict and Sentence
On March 26, in Rowan County, Lukjanczuk was convicted of felony solicitation of a child by computer. He was sentenced to a term of 5 to 15 months in prison and ordered to remain on the sex offender registry for 30 years, according to the Rowan County Sheriff's Office.
Part of a Larger Undercover Operation
The case grew out of the third phase of "Operation Blue Light," a year-long investigation into human trafficking and online solicitation that concluded with online chat stings in late 2024. Local coverage at the time reported five arrests and noted that deputies posed as both children and parents during the operation, as reported by the Salisbury Post.
Detective Posed Online as a 14-Year-Old
According to the sheriff's release, Lukjanczuk believed he was communicating with a 14-year-old girl during the online chats. In reality, the account was controlled by an undercover Rowan County detective. Prosecutors leaned on chat logs and witness testimony to secure the conviction, the release states, according to the Rowan County Sheriff's Office.
Two Other Defendants Take Plea Deals
The same release also details outcomes for two other men linked to Operation Blue Light. It notes that 57-year-old Lewis Scott Babbidge of Matthews pleaded guilty on March 9, received a suspended sentence, and was ordered onto the sex offender registry. It also states that 70-year-old Edgar Jack Malcom of Newberry, S.C., pleaded guilty last year and received a suspended sentence.
Legal Context
Under North Carolina law, solicitation of a child by computer is set out in N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-202.3 and is normally a Class H felony unless a meeting actually occurs, which can raise the charge. The statute text is available via Justia. The state's sex offender registration rules generally require at least 30 years of registration for reportable convictions, with an option to petition for a shorter period after 10 years; those rules are described by the North Carolina General Assembly.
Sheriff Travis Allen has said the investigation highlights his office's emphasis on protecting children and has urged families to keep close tabs on kids' online contacts. Anyone with information is asked to contact Rowan County Crime Stoppers at 1-866-639-5245 or the sheriff's office non-emergency line, according to local reporting and the sheriff's release, as reported by the Salisbury Post.
