Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office Arrested Child Predator on Multiple Charges
By Rick McCann
Blue RAM Media/Gulf Coast News
April 6, 2026
BALDWIN COUNTY, Ala. The Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office received a tip about a person who was attempting to sexually exploit children in our community.
On February 2, 2026, the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office launched a formal investigation after receiving a cyber tip reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). The investigation was conducted jointly with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE). Through the course of the investigation, Cole Phillips was identified as the primary suspect in multiple cyber offenses targeting underage children.
On March 31, 2026, the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office arrested Cole Phillips on multiple felony charges related to the sexual exploitation of children, following a multi-agency investigation that spanned several months and crossed state lines.
Phillips was taken into custody by the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office Street Crimes Unit on outstanding warrants. He has been charged with the following:
– Two (2) counts of Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material
– One (1) count of Transmitting Obscene Material to a Child by Computer
A forensic examination of Phillips’ electronic devices yielded evidence of videos and images depicting young boys engaged in sexual acts.
Further investigation revealed that in October 2025, Phillips had been communicating with an undercover officer from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement during a covert online chat operation.
The officer was posing as a 14-year-old boy.
During the exchange, Phillips transmitted explicit material of himself engaged in a sexual act and solicited similar material in return.
This investigation remains active and ongoing. The Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office is actively working to identify additional victims who may have been targeted by Phillips.
Anyone with information relevant to this case is requested to contact the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office immediately.
The Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office, alongside its law enforcement partners, remains firmly committed to identifying, investigating, and prosecuting individuals who exploit children online. Protecting the safety and well-being of children in our community is a top priority. Questions regarding this case can be directed to Captain Correa or Lieutenant Ashton by calling the Criminal Investigations Division at 251-972-8589. Please report any and all suspicious activity to the listed contacts or by calling dispatch at 251-937-0202.
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