OPERATION SHEPHERD’S HAMMER 2026

PRESS RELEASE – In early August, Swain County Sheriff’s Office, along with federal, state and local partners conducted a complex operation that specifically targeted those who would engage in criminal activity with children.

Specialized law enforcement personnel and resources from various agencies operated out of undisclosed locations inside of Swain County with the sole intent to identify and arrest subjects willing to engage in illegal activity with juveniles and children.

Over the course of the operation 14 perpetrators were identified, four arrests were made, and the other 10 subjects will be facing charges in the coming weeks.

The four subjects who were arrested are as follows:

Daniel Shane Brown, 54, of Clyde, NC — Brown was charged with Attempted Statutory Rape of a Child <=15 Years of Age, Attempted Kidnapping, Indecent Liberties with Children and Solicitation of Child by Computer

Paul Christopher Hampton, 28, of Bryson City, NC — Hampton was charged with Attempted Statutory Rape of a Child <= 15 Years of Age, Attempted Kidnapping, Indecent Liberties with Children and Solicitation of Child by Computer

Bobby Joe Conner, 57, of Sylva, NC — Conner was charged with Attempted Statutory Rape of a Child <=15 Years of Age, Attempted Kidnapping, Indecent Liberties with Children, Solicitation of Child by Computer and Sex Offender/Child Premises

Roberto Guadalupe Zapata Valencia, 33, of Franklin, NC — Zapata Valencia was charged with Attempted Statutory Rape of a Child <=15 Years of Age, Indecent Liberties with Children, Solicitation of Child by Computer and Display Material Harmful to Minor.
Zapata Valencia was placed on a detainer by the United States Government

Sheriff Brian Kirkland and the men and women of the Swain County Sheriff’s Office, NC, would like to thank the Department of Homeland Security – Homeland Security Investigations, North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, North Carolina Department of Adult Corrections, Macon County Sheriff’s Office, Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office, Cabarrus County Sheriff’s Office, Franklin Police Department and Brevard Police Department for their unwavering support, professionalism, expertise and participation in this vital operation.
A special thanks to the District Attorney’s Office of the 43rd Prosecutorial District for your continued support of our never ending mission.

Statement from Sheriff Brian Kirkland:

“The Swain County Sheriff’s Office will spare no expense in protecting the children of Swain County. I want to be clear, there are bad actors out there and we will not stop until every effort has been made to identify, locate, arrest and put them in jail. My staff and I have zero tolerance for anyone who would engage in illegal activity with a child. We are blessed to have a strong law enforcement family here in the mountains. I am thankful for the strong relationships my staff and I have established and am looking forward to our continued partnerships moving into the future. Parents, grandparents, guardians and family, please use this as a stark reminder to practice oversight on the children in your lives. I would rather hurt a loved one’s feelings by protecting them than to allow them to become the victim of a predator on the internet. Check in on your young ones and see what they are up to on their social media, devices and gaming platforms. I would like to thank everyone who participated for the long hours and dedication. Collectively, everyone involved helped make Swain County a safer, better place for our children. I can’t thank you enough.”

All individuals accused of a crime are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.