Halloween sign challenge suffers setback

By Larry . . . On September 24, 2019, NARSOL engaged an attorney and filed a lawsuit a suit in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Georgia challenging the Butts County Sheriff’s Office’s practice of placing warning signs at the residences of registered persons before Halloween. The court granted a request for a preliminary injunction which prevented the Butts County Sheriff’s Office from erecting signs on the property of the plaintiffs during the 2019 Halloween holiday. With Halloween 2020 rapidly approaching, NARSOL’s legal team moved for Summary Judgment (decision without a trial) to permanently enjoin the sheriff’s office from placing signs in front of their homes, or, in the alternative, a new preliminary injunction barring sign placement during 2020 Halloween. Unfortunately, the court denied our motion for summary judgment and resolved the case against us, denying the relief we had sought. In addition, most of the assertions raised in the complaint were dismissed with prejudice meaning they cannot be raised again.

Background

One of the registrants lives with his 6-year-old daughter and his parents, who own the home where they all reside. Shortly before Halloween 2018, two Butts County sheriff’s deputies appeared at his door to inform him that the sheriff’s office would be placing a sign in front of their home. The sign conveyed a “community safety message” from the sheriff’s office “warning” that there could be no trick-or-treating at the home. The other plaintiffs had similar stories.

As amended, their complaint asserted three claims:

That the state compelled speech from the plaintiffs in violation of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution.
That the state trespassed in violation of state law.
That the state committed an unlawful taking of the plaintiffs’ property in violation of the Fifth Amendment.

Explanation of Summary Judgment

“Summary judgment under Rule 56 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure is proper ‘if the movant shows that there is no genuine dispute as to any material fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.’ Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(a). The moving party bears the burden of establishing that no genuine issues of material fact exist. All facts and all inferences to be drawn therefrom must be viewed in the light most favorable to the non-moving party. The Court’s function at the point of summary judgment is limited to determining whether sufficient evidence has been presented to make the issue of fact a proper question for the factfinder. The Court does not weigh the evidence or determine the truth of the matter. Nor does the Court search the record ‘to establish that it is bereft of a genuine issue of material fact.’ Street v. J.C. Bradford & Co., 886 F.2d 1472, 1479- 80 (6th Cir. 1989). Thus, ‘the inquiry performed is the threshold inquiry of determining whether there is a need for a trial-whether, in other words, there are any genuine factual issues that properly can be resolved only by a finder of fact because they may reasonably be resolved in favor of either party.’ ” Anderson, 477 U.S. at 250.

The standards upon which a court evaluates motions for summary judgment do not change when, as here, both parties seek to resolve the case through the vehicle of cross-motions for summary judgment. “The fact that both parties have moved for summary judgment does not mean that the court must grant judgment as a matter of law for one side or the other; summary judgment in favor of either party is not proper if disputes remain as to material facts.” Taft Broad. Co. v. United States, 929 F.2d 240, 248 (6th Cir. 1999) (citations omitted). Instead, “. . . the court must evaluate each party’s motion on its own merits, taking care in each instance to draw all reasonable inferences against the party whose motion is under consideration.” Id. For more details, see our article on Does v. Rausch in the August/September Digest.

What is Trespass?

The plaintiffs brought two claims alleging the signs intrude on their property rights. It is undisputed that two of the plaintiffs did not own the property where each resided at the times the signs were placed. The defendants argue that as a result, neither of them had “standing to assert any claim that turns on a real property interest.” The defendants contended that a third party who is not a property owner cannot maintain a trespass action, and the Court agreed. , 214 Ga. 149, 151, 103 S.E.2d 557 (1958) (“To maintain an action for trespass or injury to realty, it is essential that the plaintiff show either that he was the true owner or was in possession at the time of the trespass.”) The plaintiffs accused the defendants of “an inaccurate recitation of the law as addressed” and cited contrary ‘authority.’ That authority consisted of three cases. The court stated, “None remotely supported their argument.” Order at 9.

Quoting from the Order the court stated, “Under Georgia law, “[t]respass is a wrongful interference with the right to the exclusive use and benefit of a property right.” Bishop Eddie Long Ministries, Inc. v. Dillard, 272 Ga. App. 894, 901, 613 S.E.2d 673, 682 (2005) (citing OCGA § 51-9-1). The plaintiffs argue, perplexingly, that “[t]he facts underlying Petitioners’ trespass claims are wholly undisputed by either party[.]” Doc. 50-1 at 29. Among those purportedly undisputed facts, they say, is that “Respondents were entering private property which was closed to the public[.]” Id. at 30. But that critical issue is, in fact, hotly disputed: The defendants claim they placed the signs in the rights-of-way. Doc. 51-1 ¶ 4. But as critical as that issue is, the parties have all been unable to find evidence establishing the location and extent of the rights-of-way, if any, on the plaintiffs’ properties. Nor have they been able to find legal authority that resolves the relative rights of the general public, the abutting landowner, and the sheriff’s office in the rights-of-way. Order at 11-12.

The court stated, “There is no clearly established law that every temporary physical invasion of property constitutes a taking. Further, if even the parties’ counsel have not yet found law establishing the location of the rights-of-way and the relative rights of the parties in the rights-of-way, certainly a reasonable officer would not have known the placement of the signs interfered with the plaintiffs’ property interests. And again, the officers have adduced undisputed evidence that they at least attempted to place the signs in what they believed was the right-of-way. They are entitled to qualified immunity on the takings claim.” Order at 18-19.

Compelled Speech0

The First Amendment “forbids abridgement of the freedom of speech,” and “freedom of speech includes both the right to speak freely and the right to refrain from speaking at all.” Now, the record is more developed, and there is evidence that the sheriff’s office does not now have a policy of prohibiting or the intention to prohibit competing speech. The plaintiffs dispute this, citing the sheriff’s testimony at the preliminary injunction hearing before last Halloween. They cite no further evidence showing such a policy or intention. On the issue of injunctive relief, the initial question, then, is whether the record provides evidence that the sheriff’s office intends to bar the plaintiffs from placing competing messages. It does not. Whatever the sheriff’s office planned to do in 2019, it is clear now it will not attempt to impinge the plaintiffs’ First Amendment rights. The plaintiffs are free to offer speech competing with the Sheriff’s Office’s views and to disassociate themselves from those views. Order at 21-22.0

Is There Hope?

Yes, because the court was not able to resolve all issues, particularly the issue of whether the signs were on public right-of-way or private property. Quoting from the order, “The Court first makes clear what it is not concluding. The Sheriff’s Office believes it has the right to post the signs in front of the Plaintiffs’ homes as long as the signs are in yet to be defined rights-of-way and that it can prosecute anyone who moves the signs. The Court doesn’t reach that issue, but as noted, the Defendants have scant authority to support either proposition. And the Court certainly doesn’t conclude, given the facts here, that putting the signs in the Plaintiffs’ yards makes sense. Rather, the Court only concludes that, for the most part, the relief the Plaintiffs seek is not available.” Order at 28.

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Larry Neely

Larry serves as NARSOL’S treasurer, publisher of the Digest, and co-chair of the conference planning committee. He also hosts the “NARSOL in Action” and “Can They Do That?” webinars and is a regular on the “Registry Matters” podcasts.

Source: https://narsol.org/2020/11/halloween-sign-challenge-suffers-setback/

Fmr Soldier Pleads Guilty In GA-FL Child Sexual Exploitation Case

A former U.S. Army Specialist has pleaded guilty in a child exploitation case, after sneaking a Florida teen on base and taking more than 100 photos and films of her in the nude, said Charlie Peeler, the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia.

Samuel Ray Robinson, 23, of Tulsa, Oklahoma, pleaded guilty on Tuesday, October 27, to one count of transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity before U.S. District Judge Clay D. Land. Robinson faces a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years in prison and up to a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a maximum fine of $250,000, and a maximum term of supervised release of life. Defendant will also be required to register as a sex offender. There is no parole in the federal system. His sentencing hearing is set for December 17, 2020.

According to the stipulation of fact entered in court, the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command’s Fort Benning CID Office was contacted on June 14, by the Walton County, Florida Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) regarding a 13 year old female runaway (Victim 1), who left her Santa Rosa Beach, Florida residence on or about May 27. On June 2, Victim 1 contacted her mother via cellphone and provided her with a “pin” of her location at a Columbus motel. Local Columbus authorities were dispatched to the hotel, and Victim 1 was transported back to Florida.

A forensic examination of the phone revealed Victim 1’s phone “pinged” on Fort Benning between May 27 and June 2, and she had been communicating with Robinson. During an interview with agents, Robinson admitted he met Victim 1 online and picked her up at a gas station in Destin, Florida. Robinson also admitted he knew the victim was a minor when he picked her up, thinking her to be 15 years old. Robinson snuck Victim 1 onto Fort Benning, where she stayed for six nights, engaging in sexual intercourse. Victim 1 was also filmed and photographed in the nude by Robinson more than 100 times.

“Robinson targeted a vulnerable minor online, took her hours away from home, and kept her hidden, abusing her repeatedly. He will pay a steep penalty for his egregious crime—federal prison without parole,” said U.S. Attorney Charlie Peeler. “I want to thank Fort Benning CID, the Columbus authorities and the Walton County Sheriff’s Office for investigating this case and bringing the victim safely home.”

“Robinson’s behavior is not tolerated in the U.S. Army and hopefully this will be of some solace to his victim and prevent him from targeting other such vulnerable people,” said Special Agent-in-Charge Micah Rush. “I want to thank all of the investigative and legal efforts made by the Special Agents of the Fort Benning CID Office, our law enforcement partners and the U.S. Attorney’s office.”

The case was investigated by the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command’s Fort Benning CID Office (CID) and Walton County, Florida Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) with assistance from the Columbus Police Department (CPD). Assistant U.S. Attorney Shanelle Booker is prosecuting the case for the Government.

Source: https://allongeorgia.com/georgia-public-safety/fmr-soldier-pleads-guilty-in-ga-fl-child-sexual-exploitation-case/

Man caught in empty house after escaping through jail fence

AMERICUS, Ga. (AP) — A county inmate was recaptured Tuesday in southwest Georgia after escaping Sunday through the jail fence.

Sumter County Chief Deputy Eric Bryant told WALB-TV that Charlie Lester was found in an abandoned house in Americus.

Lester escaped from the Sumter County jail, where he was being held on charges including rape, sodomy, aggravated sodomy, enticing a child and other sex offenses. He escaped, while outside for recreation, through multiple layers of fencing. Bryant said Lester may have broken part of the fence, but said the barrier has been repaired and that additional reinforced fencing may be added.

Officials arrested two other people Tuesday who they believe helped Lester escape or hide, Bryant said. Their names were not released and no charges were announced.

Lester will face additional charges of escape, Bryant said.

For copyright information, check with the distributor of this item, WALB-TV.

Source: https://thebrunswicknews.com/news/state_news/man-caught-in-empty-house-after-escaping-through-jail-fence/article_7f7a5bb8-7a36-5f9b-8c97-020d3b9a9696.html

Georgia man admits possessing child pornography

An Evans man awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to possessing child pornography.

Oludare Oluwabusi, 43, of Evans, pled guilty to one count of Possession of Child Pornography before U.S. District Court Chief Judge J. Randal Hall, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. The charge carries a possible sentence of up to 20 years in federal prison, a requirement for registration as a sex offender, and a period of supervised release after completion of the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.

“Each time they are created, stored, shared or viewed, images of child pornography represent the encapsulated, continual victimization of minors,” said U.S. Attorney Christine. “Possessing images of child pornography is a violation of the law, it is sickening and it is depraved, and with the collaboration of our vigilant law enforcement partners, we will not tolerate it.”

As outlined in court documents and testimony, in April, FBI agents acted on a cyber tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children when they searched Oluwabusi’s home in Riverwood Plantation. An agent later testified in court to finding graphic images of child pornography on multiple devices belonging to Oluwabusi that were seized from the home.

“The FBI will always make it a top priority to keep our children safe and work with our federal, state and local partners to track down anyone involved in this abhorrent behavior,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta.

The FBI is investigating the case, which is being prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney and Project Safe Childhood Coordinator Tara M. Lyons.

Source: https://allongeorgia.com/georgia-public-safety/georgia-man-admits-possessing-child-pornography/

Judge orders release of Ghislaine Maxwell transcripts

By Associated Press | October 20, 2020 at 1:53 PM EDT – Updated October 21 at 1:40 AM

NEW YORK (AP) — Transcripts of interviews lawyers conducted with the ex-girlfriend of the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein must be released by Thursday morning, a judge said Tuesday.

U.S. District Judge Loretta A. Preska’s order allows the public release of transcripts of two days of depositions in 2016 of British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell and related documents, along with the deposition transcript of an anonymous accuser.

The judge briefly permitted the immediate release of the transcripts but reversed herself after an attorney for Maxwell made a late plea to delay the release. The lawyer cited objections to some redactions and said Maxwell had not had decided whether to further appeal an appellate ruling. Preska gave lawyers on each side until 9 a.m. Thursday to confer and release the transcripts.

The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan had ruled Monday that Preska properly decided that the public had a right to access documents from legal proceedings and that transcripts should be unsealed because arguments by Maxwell’s lawyers were meritless.

The depositions were taken as part of a lawsuit brought against Maxwell by Virginia Roberts Giuffre. Giuffre had accused Maxwell of aiding Epstein in the abuse of Giuffre before she was an adult. The lawsuit was eventually settled.

Lawyers for Maxwell, 58, had argued that the documents reflecting seven hours of interviews over two days should remain sealed, in part to protect her right to a fair trial in July on charges that she helped Epstein traffic and sexually abuse teenage girls in the 1990s.

They noted that portions of the transcripts relate to perjury charges in the indictment she faces. She has pleaded not guilty.

Maxwell has been incarcerated since her arrest in early July. If convicted, she could face up to 35 years in prison.

Meanwhile, prosecutors filed papers late Tuesday to insist that 40 pages of materials and 40 pictures related to women abused by Epstein after the period addressed in the indictment should not be released to defense lawyers until eight weeks before trial.

“The premature revelation of this information would give the defendant the opportunity to interfere with the Government’s investigation before it is complete. Such information could allow her to contact and intimidate witnesses, destroy evidence relevant to the investigation, or alert other targets of the investigation,” prosecutors wrote.

Maxwell’s lawyers have argued that the materials could be important to her defense and should be turned over sooner.

But prosecutors said showing the Maxwell was not part of the abuse of some women could not be used to argue she did not join the abuse of minors from 1994 to 1997.

“The Government has not charged Maxwell with being Jeffrey Epstein’s ‘madam’ and ‘principal facilitator of his abuse,’” they wrote.

Maxwell’s arrest came a year after Epstein, 66, was arrested and charged with sex trafficking. He killed himself in August 2019 at a federal jail in Manhattan where he was awaiting trial without bail.

In 2008 in Florida, Epstein pleaded guilty to state charges of soliciting and procuring a person under age 18 for prostitution. He spent 13 months in jail, paid settlements to victims and remained a registered sex offender.

Source: https://www.walb.com/2020/10/20/judge-orders-speedy-release-ghislaine-maxwell-transcripts/

Reshaping Law Enforcement in Rural Southeast Georgia on a Shoestring Budget

John Miles, Jr. has been Candler County’s top law enforcement officer since March 2016. The small rural county of almost 11,000 is one term into a new regime that followed what was the incumbency of the longest sitting sheriff in the state of Georgia. The 250-square mile county with just one municipality embodies what people think of when they hear ‘rural America’ which makes for a quaint and comfortable place to call home that can sometimes be difficult to govern.

But in four and a half years and on a shoestring budget of sorts, Miles has transformed the Candler County Sheriff’s Office, accelerated the agency into the technological age with competitive pay for deputies, and increased the amount and the quality of services provided — not always an easy feat in southeast Georgia where citizens prefer ‘the way it’s always been done’ and, for many decades, ‘who you know and why’ determining your level of influence.

After trudging through two highly contested elections within eight months of each other, Miles had, for lack of a better word, miles to go in building trust in the community and mending bridges where they had been burned thanks to politics. His first eight months in office were soiled by the divisiveness of a perpetual campaign cycle, much of which overshadowed many of the reforms immediately instituted in the office. The premature departure of longtime sheriff Homer Bell and the appointment of an interim sheriff, Blake Hendrix, meant the tenure for Miles’ after his victory in the special election in March would either be short-lived and conclude in the general election or would total at least four years, long enough to make his case to Candler Countians on his traditional – yet simultaneously rogue – approach to policing.

Though it has not always been considered ‘old school,’ Miles’ view of the duty of the Sheriff’s Office is traditional and constitutional.

He takes the position that everything that happens inside the boundaries of Candler County is in the jurisdiction of and is the responsibility of the Candler County Sheriff’s Office. “We’re the baseline law enforcement in the county,” Miles says, referring to the constitutional definition of a sheriff, which has the duty to “preserve the peace and protect the lives, persons, property, health and morals of the people” while maintaining the jail and the ‘sword’ of the court.

Home

That is a sizable duty, but while campaigning five years ago, Miles promised an increase in just about everything: services afforded to citizens, equipment and resources, transparency with the public, training for staff, and support for deputies and jailers.

Much of that meant is what often draws the most criticism: spending money. But in Candler County’s case, the public was more prepared for change than most anticipated.

The Sheriff’s Office budget has increased since Miles took over, primarily with personnel costs. Human capital and the related expenses account for roughly 90% of the annual budget, leaving the rest for operations. In four years, Miles has added just four positions – two of which are in the schools and one is permanently at the courthouse. But in the case of the school deputies, the Board of Education makes payments to the county directly and not to the Sheriff’s Office, meaning the Sheriff’s budget does not reflect the offset.

As for the new position for the courthouse, it was an immediate addition to comply with state law. Courthouses in Georgia are required to have a POST-certified deputy on the premises when the Clerk’s Office is open. In years past, Candler was not in compliance with this mandate – which is the duty of the Sheriff’s office to ensure it is met – and on-duty deputies would rotate assisting with coverage, often leaving the courthouse unmanned. Now, one deputy is dedicated on a full-time basis to the judicial building.

School Safety & School Resource Deputies

CCSO partners with the Candler County School System to employ two deputies that cover the school campuses, with an office in each building. The initiative was a campaign issue for Miles in 2016 as there had not previously been a working relationship with the Board of Education, which now funds 80% of the salaries for the deputies assigned to the schools. Because the Board of Education makes the payment to the county directly and not to the Sheriff’s Office, the increases look greater than they actually are. Nevertheless, Miles says the additions have been extremely successful.

The Office has also facilitated assessments by higher ranking agencies, including the FBI, to assist with improvements for school safety, active shooter training, and overall logistics.

More Training for Deputies & Jailers

Miles attributes the ease in increasing the budget for training to a great working relationship with the county commissioners.

The Office provides in-house training on a monthly basis, with one major focus being the Senior Deputy Certification training, which can take several years. The state minimum of 20 hours of training per year is peanuts for deputies in Candler. Miles says both deputies and jailers are encouraged to take classes relevant to their job duties whenever possible and most exceed the baseline standards. Jailers and dispatchers who wish to participate can sit in on training as well or, if they simply want to learn more about the subject matter for informational purposes, the office will stream the training for them to watch from their post or at another time.

The Office encourages continued education, including associates and bachelor’s degrees, outside of the agency, too.

Equipment, Cameras & Vehicles

Funded almost entirely by SPLOST money, the Office has made substantial investments into a radio system, vehicles, computers, and state-of-the-art camera systems that double down on Miles’ commitment to transparency. He says the cameras protect the public and his deputies and the citizens have largely welcomed the idea.

“We’ve had great support from the community, all across the board,” Miles says. “Once we got out and explained what we did and why, it’s been really positive for us.”

No place has benefitted from cameras more than the jail, however. Cameras are now in every location in which an inmate travels and even jailers wear body cameras. In an era of litigiousness and endless allegations, the jail complex surveillance, which is monitored around the clock, has provided an additional layer of accountability for both inmates and staff.

The office didn’t previously provide duty weapons, either. Deputies brought their own from home, but Miles said it is imperative for his deputies to have quality firearms, protective vests, and access to regional communication portals.

And while a point of contention, for a time, was the radio system that pulled $700,000 from the SPLOST fund for public safety, the dent in the coffer for what was previously an outdated and borderline failing infrastructure changed the game for public safety generally – not just CCSO.

Transparency & Data Maintenance

The recordkeeping systems and methods for analyzing data under the previous administration are a stark contrast from the future of the office that Miles promised on the campaign trail and hit the ground running to implement on Day 1.

The Office now tracks everything deputies do – from miles traveled, house checks conducted, and interactions initiated to fuel used, warnings issued, and civil service actions taken for every single deputy on every shift. The improvement to the software systems as well as a greater understanding by staff in regard to what the technology is able to do means more accurate data for the office as a whole. Miles believes that an abundance of data provides an avenue for acknowledging successes and highlighting where improvements are still needed. He also says it helps identify budgetary needs and where resources should be allocated, as well as providing concise statistics that are paramount for public trust. The conventional approach to policing and management of the office was one that Candler County had previously not known.

“We’re tracking activity like never before,” Miles said. And even more so with registered sex offenders, which has a dedicated person responsible for maintaining the database and ensuring accurate reporting to the GBI.

The results are tangible.

The average response time through the end of September was 4:28 when including deputy initiated calls. In the first nine months of the year – and despite COVID-19 life changes – the office dispatched for 10,873 calls for service, with CCSO deputies responding to 6,050 of those. 449 inmates have been booked into the Candler County Jail and the Office keeps tabs on 46 registered sex offenders.

Interagency Partnerships Outside of the County

Miles takes the approach that interagency partnerships are paramount, which is why the office partners with regional drug task forces, neighboring agencies, and the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety (GOHS).

CCSO, which is home for nearly every deputy employed with the agency, has a great working relationship with Bulloch County and the Statesboro Police Department. Candler County doesn’t have a K9 unit and often relies on BCSO for assistance, providing a cost savings for Candler citizens and additional training and deployment logs for the K9 handlers.

CCSO’s participation in the GOHS partnership means they are eligible for grant funds, equipment surpluses, and regional assistance for traffic enforcement and DUI safety checks. The Office also relies on GSP for assistance with traffic accidents, though in recent years, deputies have become more proficient in traffic accident reporting, which Miles says is obviously a good thing.

Each means that the office can provide more services. The Sheriff’s Office has revolutionized how it interacts with the public, too. For starters, it isn’t always because something bad happened or because someone needs help. Miles has instituted a house check program for citizens, which has been overwhelmingly successful. From January to September 2020, the Sheriff’s Office conducted 9,422 house checks, which is in addition to the automated phone system used to routinely check on seniors and others who live alone. Additionally, the office has hosted internal fundraisers and donated to charitable organizations in the community, like the Boys & Girls Club of Candler County.

Miles has never asked his deputies to do anything he is not willing to do either. He still responds to calls, keeps a handle on the operations of each shift, and is present in the community. His deputies, he says, know that they can reach him anytime – day or night – if they can’t get in touch with a supervisor. “I always want them to ask if they have a question,” he echoed, saying officer discretion is not compromised by getting a second opinion.

But some things about small communities will never change.

Some people still want to talk to the Sheriff and only the Sheriff and Miles says he will field questions and concerns from anyone who asks. “Sometimes they just want to vent. They may know I can’t change it or do anything about it, but they just want someone to listen and say ‘I understand.’ I’ve been cussed out and hung up on, though, because I won’t do someone a special favor,” Miles said chuckling.

Law enforcement has changed considerably, even in the last decade. With the around the clock national media attention and heightened scrutiny of police behavior, public opinions on law enforcement have soured in many communities…but not in Candler County. “We haven’t seen that kind of animosity that you’re seeing in other places,” Miles said. “It may be our relationships with the community.”

There is no ‘perfect’ agency and Miles says there are still plenty of things he would like to do. Ever-increasing training for deputies and a culture of encouragement for more employees to pursue their degrees is at the top internally. With the public, maintaining their trust is at the forefront day in and day out.

But the job is rewarding for him, even with the stressors and curve balls, something he credits solely to the support he’s seen for the operations and the office as a whole.

He likens it to another kid. “To see where we were and where we are now, it gives me a little bit of pride to know what we’ve done as a team,” he said.

“When I ran for this office, the community was very split which was really reflected in the vote count. At the time, you don’t know the reasons people are voting for you and those who don’t, but I think I’ve gained the support from the people I didn’t initially. And not from a campaign standpoint. Having their trust in my decision making, having the support of the deputies and staff – there is no way I could do this without the people that I have here. I’m very lucky. I can’t imagine it without the staff and the ones who do the heavy lifting. And I’m very proud of that and I’m very thankful.”

Jessica Szilagyi

Jessica Szilagyi is a Statewide Contributor for AllOnGeorgia.com. She focuses primarily on state and local politics as well as issues in law enforcement. She has a background in Political Science with a focus in local government and has a Master of Public Administration from the University of Georgia.

Jessica is a “Like It Or Not” contributor for Fox5 in Atlanta and has two blogs of her own: The Perspicacious Conservative and “Hair Blowers to Lawn Mowers.”

Source: https://allongeorgia.com/candler-local-spotlight/reshaping-law-enforcement-in-rural-southeast-georgia-on-a-shoestring-budget/

NARSOL’s litigation summit webcast; sign up now!

Fresh on the heels of our record-setting summer NARSOL LIVE web event, the National Association for Rational Sexual Offense Laws will soon be hosting a NARSOL LIVE Litigation Summit on November 19 & 21, 2020. This live virtual event will feature dynamic attorney presenters speaking on the hottest topics in registry litigation, giving us updates and insights to the key court cases recently decided or currently in play that could have electrifying implications for the future of the registry. Members in good-standing are eligible for a 10% discount, and should have received an email with their special coupon code. Register Now

Paul Dubbeling, Civil Rights Attorney & NARSOL General Counsel
Our presenters include:Erica Dubno, Post-Conviction Counsel
Aaron Marcus, Civil Rights Attorney
Adele Nicholas, Civil Rights Attorney
Paul Reingold, Civil Rights Attorney & Law Professor Emeritus
Mark Yurachek, Post-Conviction & Appeals Attorney

Program schedule (all times EST):

Thursday:

6:30 PM opening
6:45 Mark Yurachek – Georgia
7:45 break
8:00 Erica Dubno – Arizona
9:00 closing

Saturday

10:45 AM opening
11:00 Paul Dubbeling
12:00 Aaron Marcus
1:00 Lunch
1:45 Details
2:00 Paul Rinegold
3:00 Adele Nicholas
5:15 closing

We look forward to providing you with this next installment in our series of World-Class Events to educate, energize, and empower our members and supporters nationwide. The path to registry reform/abolishment starts with knowledge, and we know you’ll find the NARSOL LIVE Litigation Summit a great way to provide you with the critical information you need to be better informed and a more effective advocate for criminal justice reform change.

For 30 days after the event, the recordings will be available for viewing, and access can be purchased after November 21 during the 30 days.

Watch the “electric” video trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZLUeN6QdUA

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Source: https://narsol.org/2020/10/https-youtu-be-c4ojnfpsm7g/

Illegal alien sentenced to federal prison for attempting to lure Georgia teen for sex

A Mexican national who attempted to lure a young teen for sexual activity has been sentenced to more than six years in federal prison.

Alvaro Hernandez, 36, of Bristol, Ga., a citizen of Mexico illegally present in the United States, was sentenced to 76 months in federal prison by U.S. District Court Judge Lisa Godbey Wood after pleading guilty to Attempted Coercion and Enticement, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. Herndandez will be required to register as a sex offender and to serve 10 years of supervised release after completion of his prison sentence.

There is no parole in the federal system.

“Alvaro Hernandez was enjoying his illegal access to the American dream, living and working in rural Georgia, when he tried to pay for sex with someone he believed was a child,” said U.S. Attorney Christine. “Our law enforcement partners helped protect our community from this predator by intercepting him during the perverted attempt.”

According to court documents and testimony, in March 2019, investigators with the U.S. Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) and the Camden County Sheriff’s Office, along with the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, conducted a joint operation targeting child predators operating near Submarine Base Kings Bay. Hernandez, who responded to an internet message purporting to be from a 14-year-old offering sex for money, was arrested after he drove from his residence in Pierce County, Ga., and arrived at what he believed was the teen’s residence in St. Mary’s, Ga.

“This sentencing should serve as a warning that sexual predators who target vulnerable children will be fully investigated and prosecuted,” said NCIS Southeast Field Office Special Agent in Charge Thomas Cannizzo. “NCIS is grateful to the Camden County Sheriff’s Office for its continued partnership in keeping communities where Navy and Marine Corps families live safe.”

The case was prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Katelyn Semales and Assistant U.S. Attorney and Organized Crime Drug Task Force Coordinator Marcela C. Mateo.

Source: https://allongeorgia.com/georgia-public-safety/illegal-alien-sentenced-to-federal-prison-for-attempting-to-lure-georgia-teen-for-sex/

Serial sex offender sentenced to 25 years for operating a child pornography chat group

Terence Dewayne Dixon has been sentenced for running an online chat group that he named “House of 1000 Littles.” The chat group was dedicated to sharing child pornography and discussing child molestation. At the time, Dixon had already been convicted in 2001 of the aggravated sexual assault of a nine-year-old child.

“Dixon disseminated horrific images of child pornography to members of his online chat group,” said U.S. Attorney Byung J. “BJay” Pak. “He also encouraged others to share child pornography that fueled a demand for the violent exploitation of children. This lengthy prison sentence serves as some recompense for the irreparable harm he caused to so many children and their families.”

“The monsters that visited this site and found pleasure in exploiting innocent children now have one less place to sow their evil seeds and one less organizer to help them do it. Dixon’s sentencing is warning to those who revel in and peddle this filth,“ said acting Special Agent in Charge Robert Hammer, who oversees Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) operations in Georgia and Alabama. “HSI Atlanta and its state and local partners are hunting down these criminals that look to steal the innocence of our youth.”

“For this defendant to take the images of innocent children and pass them around in order to exploit them and use them to arouse in a sexual nature is absolutely despicable. The GBI is committed to working with our partners to stop this criminal behavior and protect our young ones,” said Vic Reynolds, Director, Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

According to U.S. Attorney Pak, the charges and other information presented in court: As early as November 2017, Terence Dixon created an online chat group and named it “House of 1000 Littles.” Members of Dixon’s group discussed how they were sexually aroused by children and sent one another links to child pornography files on a daily basis until October 2018.

On a single day in January 2018, for example, Dixon shared 21 links containing child pornography with the group. On another date, in February 2018, he bragged that his shared link contained 5,000 videos of child pornography. Investigators identified the majority of his chat group living all across the United States, including in the states of California, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Michigan, New York, Ohio, and Tennessee.

Terence Dewayne Dixon, also known as “Devilman Crybaby”, 38, of Houston, Texas, has been sentenced to 25 years in prison to be followed by a lifetime of supervised release. He was ordered to pay $12,000 in restitution. He must also register as a sex offender upon release. Dixon was convicted of conspiracy to advertise child pornography on July 23, 2020, after he pleaded guilty.

This case was investigated by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Keen prosecuted the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood.

Source: https://allongeorgia.com/georgia-public-safety/serial-sex-offender-sentenced-to-25-years-for-operating-a-child-pornography-chat-group/

Human remains found, identified as missing Georgia teen

Donald Jones’ mother had reported him missing Sept. 21.

SAVANNAH, Ga. — Human remains have been identified as a teenager reported missing in Georgia.

The Chatham County Police Department said an autopsy confirmed Thursday that remains found on Sept. 19 in the woods of Chatham County are those of 15-year-old Donald Jones, of Savannah.

Credit: Savannah Police Department

Donald Jones

People walking in the area reported the discovery. Jones’ mother had reported him missing Sept. 21. A cause of death has not yet been released. Authorities are investigating the case as a suspected homicide.

Source: http://rssfeeds.11alive.com/~/636318112/0/wxia-local~Human-remains-found-identified-as-missing-Georgia-teen

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