A Crawfordville, Ga. man is behind bars in connection with an ongoing pornography investigation.
Jesse Scott Ward, 27, of 394 Jennings Street, was taken into custody early Sunday in Thomson by local, state and federal law enforcement authorities, according to Anthony Russo, special agent in-charge of the Augusta Federal Bureau of Investigation office.
Gary Nicholson, special agent in-charge of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Region 7 office in Thomson, said Monday that a state charge of computer pornography involving child exploitation had been filed against Mr. Ward.
Federal charges had not yet been filed as of Monday, Agent Russo said, noting that he anticipates more charges forthcoming in the case.
Mr. Ward, who was driving a red sedan, was arrested about 2:15 a.m. on Washington Road in Thomson, Agent Russo said. Participating in Mr. Ward's apprehension were FBI and GBI agents, as well as deputies with the McDuffie County Sheriff's Department and Thomson Police Department.
The suspect remained jailed in the McDuffie County Law Enforcement Center in Thomson on Monday night, according to Sheriff's Department Maj. Ronnie Williamson. Mr. Ward was denied bond on Tuesday.
Agent Russo refused to say what, if anything, was seized from the vehicle that Mr. Ward was in at the time of his arrest.
"I can't get into those details, because this is an ongoing joint investigation by the FBI and GBI," Agent Russo said.
Agent Nicholson, meanwhile, said additional information about the case could be made public later this week.
