Wahsega 4-H Director Back in Jail on Child Porn Charge

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Paul Travis Williams

DAHLONEGA, Ga. – Paul Travis Williams, the 4-H director who was arrested last month on a charge of possession of child pornography and subsequently released on $10,000 bond, is back in the Lumpkin County Detention Center.

Williams, 48, was arrested again last week after authorities added 30 new counts of accessing child porn.

The initial investigation was conducted by the Lumpkin County Sheriff’s Office, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the University of Georgia Police Department following a cyber tip showing that suspected child pornography had been uploaded from inside the Wahsega 4-H Center.

Williams’ attorney Catherine Bernard stated in an email, “Travis Williams maintains his innocence on these charges, and it is unfortunate that the Lumpkin County Sheriff’s Office is employing deceptive tactics despite Travis’ good faith cooperation with law enforcement.

“The sudden re-arrest on October 26th was unnecessary. On October 11th, the lead investigator called Travis and informed him that a warrant had been issued and that he could turn himself in the next day. At that time, the investigator specifically volunteered a promise that he wasn’t going to “play the game” of having Travis re-arrested on new warrants for the same charge as the investigation continued.”

Sheriff Stacy Jarrard

But Sheriff Stacy Jarrard said, “He would never say that because he had no way of knowing how many more counts may be coming.”

Bernard also said, “It appears that the Sheriff’s Office is attempting to try this case in the media before even making any evidence available to a grand jury or to Travis and his counsel.”

Jarrard strongly denied the accusation, saying, “We held only one press conference and that was so we wouldn’t have to respond to so many media inquiries at different times.”

Bernard said her client has complied with all conditions and instructions from the court and law enforcement. “Travis will be seeking to return to bail as soon as possible so that he can defend himself against these charges,” Bernard added.

 

 

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