A former substitute teacher in Jackson County has been sentenced after investigators said they found found hundreds of images and videos of child pornography on various electronic devices last year in a Nicholson, Ga. residence.
Ernest Leander Shaw, 66, was sentenced Monday to two years in prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release of which the first two years will be served on home confinement.
In May 2018, authorities received a tip that Shaw possessed an electronic device that contained child pornography. During an interview with Shaw, he admitted that the images belonged to him. In a search of his home, telephones, and other electronic devices, and a search warrant obtained from a Jackson County Magistrate Judge, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office eventually found the pornography in Shaw’s residence.
“Child pornography is abuse of society’s most vulnerable population—young children,” said U.S. Attorney Byung J. “BJay” Pak. “Children trust that adults and those in leadership positions will be their protector. Shaw chose to betray that trust.”
Dr. April Howard, Jackson County Schools superintendent, previously said Shaw was removed from the district's list of approved substitute teachers as soon as they were notified the sheriff’s office had opened an investigation.
"He committed horrendous acts when he possessed child pornography for his gratification and then had access to our children here in Jackson County,” said Jackson County Sheriff Janis Mangum.
Shaw was indicted by a federal grand jury on September 18, 2018. He pleaded guilty to the sole count in the indictment, pursuant to a written plea agreement.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with the initial investigation handled by the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sekret T. Sneed prosecuted the case.
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