BALDWIN COUNTY, Ala. (NBC 15) — According to BCSO, on January 8, 2026, the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office, in coordination with the Etowah County Sheriff’s Office and Etowah County District Attorney’s Office, served an arrest warrant and an Etowah County search warrant at a residence located at Maple Drive in Boaz, Alabama. As a result of this operation, James Eric Sitz, age 50, was taken into custody on an arrest warrant issued by the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office for Electronic Solicitation of a Child.
The arrest stems from a proactive undercover investigation that began in August 2025 and continued through the present. During the investigation, Sitz believed he was communicating online with a 14-year-old female from Baldwin County Alabama, which was an undercover persona operated by a Baldwin County Sheriff’s Investigator. During these electronic conversations Sitz engaged in inappropriate conversations and also solicited nude images from the perceived underage victims.
During a post-arrest interview, Sitz admitted to engaging in inappropriate online communications with perceived juveniles. Multiple electronic devices in his possession were seized that possibly contained child sexual abuse material, depicting young teenage girls. It’s also believed several underage individuals with whom he had interacted online, some of whom were located within approximately one hour of his residence. Additionally, investigators say evidence shows instances in which he solicited nude images from live underage victims, indicating the potential for additional charges related to the production of child sexual abuse material…