A Walton County lawyer, part-time judge and ex-special
assistant attorneys general (SAAG) faces 12 charges of sexual
exploitation of children, Channel 2 Action News reported.
Documents obtained by the news station indicate that most
of the charges Jeffery faces involve photos or videos of child
pornography, but one charge alleges that he used an email account to
entice a child for indecent purposes.
A spokesperson for
Attorney General Chris Carr sent Channel 2 a statement that said
Jeffery had been appointed to serve as a SAAG, representing the Georgia
Department of Human Services Division of Child Support Services in
Walton and Newton counties.
“Attorney General Carr
opposes any and all forms of child exploitation and abuse,” the
statement said. “We hold our Special Assistant Attorneys General to very
high standards. Given the circumstances, we terminated Mr. Jeffery’s
appointment as a Special Assistant Attorney General immediately upon
getting word of the arrest.”
Walton County Probate Judge Bruce Wright told
the news station that he inherited Jeffery as an associate probate judge
from the previous administration. He said Jeffery handled about one
estate case for him a year for the past six years.
“A
GBI agent and an FBI agent made me aware of (Jeffery’s charges) prior to
the morning of his arrest,” Wright told Channel 2. “I was sad, I was
hurt and I was mad all at once.”
Wright said he won’t
assign Jeffery any cases while the charges are pending, and he’ll refer
Jeffery to the Judicial Qualifications Commission for his removal as a
judge if he pleads guilty or is found guilty of any of the charges, the
news station reported.
Attorney Robbie Ballard told Channel 2 his firm
represents Jeffery, and he intends to plead not guilty. He wouldn’t
comment further on the case.
Full Article & Source:
Walton County lawyer, judge faces 12 child porn, enticing children charges
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