Macon – A Warner Robins man pleaded guilty Wednesday to 34 counts of sexual exploitation of children and one count of electronically furnishing obscene material to minors.
Accepting a joint recommendation from the prosecution and defense, a Bibb County Superior Court judge sentenced 52-year-old Stephen Christopher Garrard to 20 years, eight of them in prison. While on probation, Garrard must abide by sex offender conditions.
If the case had gone to trial, evidence would have shown:
The Bibb County Sheriff’s Office received a tip from the GBI in August 2016 that a photo depicting child pornography was sent via Facebook Messenger. The Facebook account was linked to Garrard’s email.
Deputies also got information that Garrard had sent a then-16-year-old girl a video showing him touching his genitals. After obtaining a search warrant, authorities found 34 images, including some videos on Garrard’s cell phone that showed minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
Speaking after the plea, Macon Judicial Circuit District Attorney David Cooke said, “Collectors of child pornography create a marketplace where children are a commodity used to act out child molesters’ sick crimes of fantasy. Anyone who collects, produces or distributes this trash should expect to go to prison.”
For more news from the District Attorney’s Office, follow on Twitter @DA_DavidCooke and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/DADavidCooke.
Contact: Amy Leigh Womack
478-621-6179 (office)
478-319-2529 (cell)
