The Liberty and Long county sheriffs departments, working in conjunction with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, wrapped up a two-month, statewide investigation that led to the arrest of more than 20 people, including Long County and Allenhurst residents, for allegedly possessing child pornography this week.
According to a press release from the LCSO, a search warrant for a residence on McCumber Drive was executed Tuesday morning and Jeremy Lee Bartlett, 26, was arrested. According to the release, evidence related to the offenses of possession of child pornography was seized.
Long County reported that Michael Kevin Jackson, 22, was also arrested Tuesday and has been charged with one count of possession of child ponography.
Operation Shattered Innocence was a statewide investigation into peer-to-peer child pornography sharing. It started in December and continued until the end of February. Throughout the investigation information on approximately 50 suspects statewide was developed by the GBI and several ICAC task force affiliate agencies. The LCSO is a member of the ICAC and the detective division was involved in gathering evidence.
Bartlett has previous run-ins with the law, albeit not related to child pornography.
According to public records, he had traffic violations in 2006 and 2007. In February 2008 he was charged with a drug violation for allegedly possessing cocaine on Jan. 29, 2008. He reportedly posted $650 bond on March 1, 2008.
The prosecution of the cases for Operation Shattered Innocence will be handled by the three U.S. attorney’s offices that cover the state. Other cases will be prosecuted by state district attorneys. Of these cases there are 25 in the Northern District, 10 in the Middle District and 9 in the Southern District.
According to Georgia law, if Bartlett is found guilty he could face 15-30 years in prison.