FRPD announces arrest of Natural Bridge man for online sexual solicitation of local minors

On Tuesday, March 21, 2023, Front Royal Police detectives initiated an investigation regarding the solicitation of minors in the Warren County/Front Royal area. Detectives started a proactive approach to apprehend individuals soliciting underage victims for sexual purposes. An undercover operation ensued, and an adult male began soliciting one of our detectives who he believed to be a female under the age of 15 years old for photographs and sexually explicit material. The adult male suspect sent sexually explicit materials to the detective who was posing in an undercover capacity as a juvenile. The initial conversation was unsolicited and started by the offender in this case.

Photo Courtesy of Rockbridge Regional Jail

Through the course of this investigation, police identified the suspect as 49-year-old Natural Bridge, Virginia resident, Douglas T. Hatcher. On April 7, 2023, detectives travelled to Houchins home in Natural Bridge, VA, and he was apprehended for the offenses listed below. Hatcher was transported to the Rockbridge Regional Jail where he went before the magistrate and was ordered to be held without bond. The court date for the listed offenses has been set for April 20, 2023, at 09:00 a.m. in Warren County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court.

The Front Royal Police Department is an active member of the Northern Virginia/DC Metro (NOVA/DC) Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, which is coordinated by the Virginia State Police. We request anyone with information regarding the solicitation or exploitation of any minor to contact Front Royal Police Department. Anyone with further information regarding this case please contact Detective M.R. Ramey at (540) 636-2208 or by email at mramey@frontroyalva.commramey@frontroyalva.com.

The Front Royal Police Department would like to thank the Rockbridge County Sheriff’s Office for their assistance in this investigation and the successful apprehension of this individual.

Name: Douglas T. Hatcher
Description: 6’03” white male, green eyes, and brown hair
Address: Natural Bridge, VA
Offenses: § 18.2-374.3. Use of communications systems to facilitate certain offenses involving children. (x5)