Man Who Produced Child Pornography
While he was a Sheriff’s Deputy is Sentenced to Prison
Davis Took Sexually Explicit Photographs of a Seven-Year-Old Girl
GAINESVILLE, Ga. – A former White County sheriff’s deputy who created pornographic images of a seven-year-old girl, was sentenced to federal prison today by United States District Court Judge William C. O’Kelley for producing child pornography. Christopher Thomas Davis, 34, of Dahlonega, Georgia, pleaded guilty to the charge on September 17, 2012.
“The defendant violated the trust of a young girl and his community,” said United States Attorney Sally Quillian Yates. “That the defendant committed this offense while serving as a law enforcement officer makes this crime that much more atrocious.”
“As egregious as this crime is, it’s even more disappointing considering an officer sworn to uphold the law and protect the innocent, has engaged in this despicable behavior,” said Brock D. Nicholson, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Atlanta. “We are a witness to an epidemic of the sexual exploitation of children across all sectors of our society. It is imperative that we take every step possible to stop this horrific abuse and ensure these predators will never again have access to a child.”
Davis was sentenced to 15 years in prison, to be followed by 15 years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. Upon release from prison, he will be required to register as a sex offender.
According to United States Attorney Yates and the information contained in public documents: Between May 18, 2009 and June 25, 2009, Davis took photographs of a seven-year-old female engaged in sexually explicit conduct. The photographs were taken inside Davis’ home in Dahlonega, Georgia. At that time, and at the time of his arrest, Davis was employed as a sheriff’s deputy with the White County Sheriff’s Office. On August 25, 2011, federal agents executed a search warrant at Davis’ home where they found additional images of child pornography.
This case is being brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and to identify and rescue victims.
This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations.
Assistant United States Attorneys Jill E. Steinberg and Brent A. Gray prosecuted the case.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney's Public Information Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the HomePage for the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Georgia is www.justice.gov/usao/gan.
