A New Bern man is accused of using Snapchat to pose as a younger user, pressure a 13-year-old into sending sexually explicit images, and then sextort the child, according to local authorities. The investigation began after law enforcement received a CyberTip about possible online exploitation involving a minor.
In a press release from the Craven County Sheriff’s Office, shared by New Bern Live, investigators with the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) team identified the suspect as 19-year-old Robert Cothren Jr. of Elizabeth Avenue in New Bern. The release states that the District Attorney’s Office was consulted, a magistrate issued warrants, and deputies then moved in to make the arrest.
Investigation and Arrest
WITN reports that Cothren was taken into custody on June 28 and is being held at the Craven County Confinement Facility with no bond. He faces multiple felony charges, including aggravated sexual extortion, indecent liberties with a child, and several degrees of sexual exploitation of a minor, according to the outlet.
The sheriff’s release, as reported by New Bern Live, says Homeland Security Investigations in Buffalo, New York, helped authorities confirm the identity of the victim. A forensic interview with the 13-year-old was completed as part of the case. Investigators said interviews with both the victim and the suspect, along with digital and other evidence collected during the probe, formed the basis for the warrants.
What Sextortion Is and Why It Matters
Sextortion happens when someone coerces or blackmails another person into creating sexual images or videos, often by threatening to share the content publicly or humiliate the victim if they do not comply. The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children has reported a sharp spike in financially motivated sextortion, logging more than 50,000 such reports in 2025, a sign of how predators are increasingly using social platforms to zero in on kids and teens, according to NCMEC.
What Comes Next
The case is expected to move through the Craven County court system, where prosecutors will review the evidence and determine formal charges, with an initial court appearance anticipated after the magistrate-issued warrants. Deputies are asking anyone with additional information to contact the Craven County Sheriff’s Office, and local coverage notes that several partner agencies assisted in the investigation, according to WITN.
Anyone who believes they have been a victim of online coercion, or who has information related to this case, can report it to local law enforcement or to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children’s CyberTipline. NCMEC also provides guidance for parents and caregivers on preserving digital evidence and protecting children online, and its reporting portal is available at NCMEC.
