Charles Norris IV, a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Acting Commander, officially retired last week ahead what inside sources at the department is a strategic move ahead of a potential looming federal indictment associated with Norris’s involvement in an underage sex trafficking sting operation.
On September 14th, 2023, The Current Report broke the story of Norris, Acting Commander of the Special Operations Bureau, being relieved on September 11th pending a criminal investigation.
On Saturday, September 9th, 2023, department sources revealed to The Current Report that Norris, one of Luna’s first promotions as Sheriff, was allegedly caught entering a known trafficking location.
Norris was allegedly detained at the scene, however, sources say at the time of detainment, no illegal acts could be proven.
Per sources close to the investigation, Norris allegedly used LASD county issued vehicle to travel to the trafficking location and was being tracked for approximately two months prior.
According to a vague department statement only issued to those who had knowledge of the incident and inquired directly to the Sheriff’s Information Bureau, a Captain, which we now know to be Norris, was confirmed relieved of duty on Monday, September 11th.
Original reports from department sources at the executive level, told The Current Report Norris was allegedly meeting a juvenile male approximately 12-14 years in age for sex.
Norris was allegedly caught going into the known trafficking location, with a specific brand of water bottle that allows the pedophile to gain entrance. Sources confirm the trafficking pad was located in LAPD jurisdiction.
Department sources revealed Norris’s Stevenson Ranch home was raided on September 11th, by LASD Internal Criminal Investigation Bureau (ICIB) and believe he may have been tipped off by a member of the LASD Special Victims Bureau prior to the raid.
Items allegedly found included the specific brand of water bottle that allowed him entrance to the trafficking pad and child pornography, which was found on his home computer, among other evidence.
A high ranking source close to the case revealed the FBI was asked to take over due to the evidence found at Norris’s home are generally prosecuted under federal statutes, which may explain why there is no record of his arrest.
The Current Report reached out to Communications Director Nicole Nishida multiple times to confirm details of the case at the time Norris was relieved of duty. Nishida did not respond to our request for comment.
Good work! Retired LASD persons
Thank you for reporting on this important story! As a long-time SCV resident, I hadn’t heard a thing about it. It’s so heartbreaking and infuriating at the same time. I truly hope he is held fully accountable for his crimes. The abuse of power and trust is beyond disgraceful.