Crime & Safety
Sheriff's Office: Child Porn Seizure 'Possibly' the Largest in Cherokee
During a routine operation to verify the addresses of the county's 213 registered sex offenders, law enforcement officials made 16 arrests.
Calling it "possibly the largest seizure of child pornography in Cherokee County to date," sheriff's investigators found more than 100,000 electronic files of child porn on a Woodstock man's computers.
Richard Ensley, 37, is in the without bond on a charge of sexual exploitation of children after authorities conducted multi-agency sweeps Wednesday and Thursday to verify the addresses of the county's 213 registered sex offenders.
Sixteen people, including Ensley, who is not a registered sex offender, were arrested during the operation, said Lt. Jay Baker, spokesman for the .
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Law enforcement officials were led to Ensley's Grove Park Lane home as part of ongoing investigation by the Cherokee Sheriff’s Office Internet Crimes Against Children Unit.
Videos and still photos found on Ensley's computers contained images of infants as well as teenage girls no more than 16 years old, Baker said.
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"He had multiple computers," he said. "Five laptops and desktops."
Officials expect to file additional charges against Ensley, Baker said.
Of the county's 213 registered sex offenders, authorities verified 176 addresses during the two-day operation. Two registered sex offenders moved without telling anyone. Thirty-two others are currently incarcerated. The remaining addresses will be verified over the next few days, Baker said.
Assisting the sheriff's office's criminal investigation division, VIPER Unit, Major Offender Task Force and Adult Detention Center deputies in the sweeps were the , , , and the probation and parole divisions of the Georgia Department of Corrections.
Four of the 16 individuals arrested Wednesday and Thursday were registered sex offenders. Their names are in bold in the following chart.
Name Charge(s) Fernandez, Heather Financial transaction card fraud, armed robbery Lillo, O.J. Violation of sex offender registry Piper, Kenneth Financial transaction card fraud, armed robbery Collins, Willie Financial transaction card fraud, armed robbery Thompson, Mason Financial transaction card fraud, armed robbery Wilson, Christopher Possession of Schedule I substance, violation of probation, held for Cobb Higgins, John Adam DUI/weaving over roadway Gossett, Edward Violation of probation Ensley, Richard Sexual exploitation of children Lipscomb, Dylan Failure to appear Wideman, Kevin Violation of probation/possession of drug-related objects Bertram, Tanner Held for Doraville Stewart, Preston Marijuana less than one ounce/possession of meth Constable, Christopher Possession less than one ounce Baxter, Jason Possession of Schedule IV Phentermine/Possession of schedule IV Soma Bankston, Mark DUI/reckless drivingDon’t miss any of the local news you care about. Subscribe to Canton-Sixes Patch’s free newsletter, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
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