About yoopernewsman

I am a news reporter, writer and investigative journalist and began my career about 40 years ago as a young teenager in Augusta, GA after moving south during the middle of high school. I'm a news reporter, writer & investigative journalist specializing in street news, plus Indigenous, civil rights & environment reporting. Currently volunteer media advisor for numerous American Indian & environment related nonprofits that include the Navajo Lutheran Mission in Rock Point, AZ & its executive director Rev. Dr. Lynn Hubbard, the nonprofit Cedar Tree Institute (CTI) in Marquette, MI & its many projects founded by Rev. Jon Magnuson, Author Joy Ibsen of Trout Creek, MI, Celtic Christianity Today (CCT) founded by Rev. Dr. George Cairns, the Turtle Island Project founded by pastors Hubbard & Cairns. In its third summer, the CTI Zaagkii Wings & Seeds Project & its volunteers built a16-foot geodesic dome solar-powered greenhouse that was built in this summer at the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community (KBIC) in an effort to restore native species plants to northern Michigan. It's located at the tribe's Natural Resources Department north of L'Anse along Lake Superior. During the summer of 2010, Zaagkii Project teens built & painted 25 beautiful reliquaries that are boxes made from pine & cedar that are used to store seeds for planting & included samples of Native American medicine including sweetgrass, cedar, sage & tobacco. From April-June 2009, I promoted the EarthKeeper Tree Project that planted 12,000 trees across northern Michigan. Co-edited "Unafraid," the second book by Author Joy Ibsen of Trout Creek, MI that was printed in May 2009 based on her father's handwritten sermons she found in shoebox. I edited numerous videos for nonprofit CCT. Began career 35 years ago as teenager in Augusta, GA after moving south during middle of high school. I was co-coordinator of the 1986 original James Brown Appreciation Day in Augusta, GA, where the Godfather of Soul was always trashed by local media who didn't report anything positive about the music icon. Mr. Terence Dicks was the other co-coordinator & most recently served as chair of the Augusta Human Relations Commission and serves on the Georgia Clients Council. Mr. Brown taught us to "fight the good fight" by battling all forms of racism & evil while not uttering a bad word about those who try to block justice, respect, fairness & kindness to all. As a child, I lived in the Harbert, Michigan home built by late poet Carl Sandburg, where the legendary author penned some of his greatest works including his Chicago works & Lincoln papers. The four-story home had a sundeck on the top & a cool walk-in safe in the basement. The neighborhood (Birchwood) has numerous cottages used for other purposes by Sandburg like the milk house where they milked goats. My parents remodeled fourth floor of the home that stands atop the Lake Michigan sand dunes/bluffs. They found items that belonged to Mr. Sandburg concealed in the walls including prescription bottles with his name, reading glasses, & a small, thin metal stamp with his name. I've worked for dozens of newspapers & radio & TV stations in GA & MI. I'm volunteer media advisor for several interfaith environmental projects involving Native Americans across Upper Peninsula of MI including the Turtle Island Project, The Zaagkii Project, the Interfaith Earth Healing Initiative, EarthKeeper Initiative & the Manoomin (Wild Rice) Project. The Zaagkii Wings & Seeds Project restores bee & butterfly habitat to help pollination of plants following death of billions of bees. Keweenaw Bay Indian Community youth & Marquette teens built butterfly houses, planted/distributed 26,000 native plants to help pollinators. The Earth Healing Initiative assisted EPA Great Lakes 2008 Earth Day Challenge. EHI helped organize interfaith participation across eight states for the 100 plus recycling projects (April 2008) involving recycling millions of pounds of electronic waste & proper disposal of millions of pills/pharmaceuticals. EPA goals were exceeded by 500%. Under an EPA grant, EHI provided free media services for the cities/groups/tribes including videos & press releases. The EarthKeeper environment projects include an annual Earth Day Clean Sweep (2005-2007) at 24 free drop-off sites across a 400 mile area of northern Michigan that collected over 370 tons of household hazardous waste. The 2007 EarthKeeper Pharmaceutical Clean Sweep collected over one ton of drugs plus $500,000 in narcotics in only three hours. Some 2,000 residents participated & many brought in pharmaceuticals for their family, friends & neighbors. In 2006, 10,000 people dropped off over 320 tons of old/broken computers, cell phones & other electronic waste, all of which was recycled. In 2005, residents turned in 45 tons of household poisons & vehicle batteries. The Manoomin (Wild Rice) Project teaches teens to respect nature & themselves by having American Indian guides escort them to remote lakes & streams in northern Michigan to plant/care for wild rice. The teens test water quality to determine the best conditions for the once native grain to survive. The Turtle Island Project was co-founded in July 2007 by Rev. Lynn Hubbard of Rock Point, AR (Ex. Dir. of the Navajo Lutheran Mission) & Rev. Dr. George Cairns of Chesterton, IN, United Church of Christ minister & research professor for the Chicago Theological Seminary. TIP promotes respect for culture & heritage of indigenous peoples like American Indians. TIP is a platform for American Indians to be heard unedited by whites. Rev. Hubbard says whites don't have the knowledge or right to speak on behalf of Native Americans. I specialize in civil rights, outdoor, environmental, cops & courts reporting thanks to my late mentor Jay Mann (Jan Tillman Hutchens), an investigative reporter in Augusta, who lived by the books "Illusions" & "Jonathon Livingston Seagull." Love to fish, hunt, camp & skydive. Belong to Delta Chi national fraternity. I was active in Junior Achievement, band played cornet. With my dear friend, the Rev. Terence A. Dicks, we were the co-coordinators of the 1986 original James Brown Appreciation Day in Augusta, GA, where the Godfather of Soul was always trashed by the local media who found no reasons to print or report anything positive about the music icon. I am honored to help the human rights activist Terence Dicks - with some of his projects including the nonprofit Georgia Center for Children and Education - and the economic initiative he founded titled "Claiming A Street Named King." I am the volunteer media advisor for several environmental projects across Michigan's Upper Peninsula including EarthKeeper II - an Initiative of the nonprofit Cedar Tree Institute in Marquette, MI. EarthKeepers II is an Interfaith Energy Conservation and Community Garden Initiative across the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Goals: Restore Native Plants and Protect the Great Lakes from Toxins like Airborne Mercury in cooperation with the EPA Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, U.S. Forest Service, 10 faith traditions and Native American tribes like the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community Previously known as the Earth Keeper Initiative - that project included many environmental projects including an annual Earth Day Clean sweep at two dozen free drop off sites across a 400 mile area of northern Michigan. The target of the 2007 Earth Keeper Pharmaceutical Clean Sweep are all kinds of medicines. In 2006, some 10,000 people dropped off over 320 tons of old/broken computers, cell phones and other electronic waste, all of which was recycled. In 2005, residents turned in 45 tons of household poisons and vehicle batteries. The Manoomin (Wild Rice) Project taught at-risk teens (just sentenced in juvenile court) to respect nature and themselves by having American Indian guides escort them to very remote lakes and streams in northern Michigan to plant and care for wild rice. The teens conducted water quality and other tests to determine the best conditions for the once native grain to survive. I have always specialized in civil rights, outdoor, environmental, cops and courts reporting thanks to my late mentor Jay Mann (Jan Tillman Hutchens), an investigative reporter in Augusta, who lived by the book "Illusions."

Wrecker Crash: Plus Two police chases leave two Aiken County men jailed – one chase ended early Sunday after lasting more than an hour and a half and speeding through streets of Perry, Salley and Wagener, SC

S.E. Social Justice Breaking News Bulletin – 1-7-17 8:55 a.m. ET

Wrecker wreck: Driver’s lead police on two chases – including high speed chase through several cities – and an earlier chase in North Augusta

By Greg Peterson
S.E. Social Justice Breaking News
Owner, News Director
906-273-2433

(Aiken County, SC) – A high speed police chase that began late Saturday night did not end until covering nearly 100 miles and lasting about an hour and a half.

Wagener chase

Meanwhile a wrecker wrecked this morning.
The predawn wrecker crash and rollover occurred in Aiken, SC about 4 a.m. today, Sun. Jan. 7, 2017.
An officer told the dispatcher: “we’re gonna need a big wrecker” to pull the crashed wrecker up from a “steep embankment” in Aiken, SC. The wrecker driver received minor injuries.

The chase repeatedly wound through the towns of Perry, Salley and Wagener, SC involving a hometown boy.
The chase happened at the same time firefighters and police were busy at a restaurant fire north east of Aiken.
Eric Pardue chase - mug 1 201825-year-old Eric Pardue of Wagener, SC is jailed without bond this morning facing numerous charges.

Pardue has a criminal history that includes third degree assault and battery.

Initial charges include drunk driving, driving with an open alcohol container, and driving on a suspended license first offense.

Additional traffic charges are sure to be filed.

 

The driver led Aiken County Sheriff’s department officers on more than a dozens roads – so many the list looks like a road atlas.

Just a few of the roads/highways the chase included (some repeatedly) are Wagener Road, Rainbow Drive, (Wagener) Airport Road, Railroad Avenue, Festival Trail Road, Rogers Cemetery Road, Highway 389 (aka John Nunn Highway), Wimbledon Road, Clinton Church Road, Nantuckett Road, Kirkland Blizzard Road, Ernest Johnson Road, Poinsettia Road, Hollow Creek Road, Honeysuckle Road, Thornridge Road, Jeffcoat Road, South Dixie Highway and numerous more.

The speeds ranged from about 40 miles per hour to over 90 miles per hour. Several local residents tried to intercede in the chase by blocking the speeding car – but the driver kept making turns – like going in squares to circle the towns from all directions.
“He keeps starting and stopping – and swerving in and out of lanes,” the deputy said.
Traffic conditions were light at the time – despite a Jeep and another vehicle trying to help police – even if it was misguided assistance.
“We’ve got somebody’s civilian car trying to block him,” the deputy said adding it was a gray Jeep Liberty.
Then it happened again:
“Aiken, we’ve got somebody else trying to block him,” the deputy leading the chase reported to 911 Dispatch.
The chase wandered a few times into the counties of Orangeburg and Lexington, SC.
Law enforcement officers tried several times to lay stop sticks in front of the vehicle however, the driver was wary of the maneuver and repeatedly changed roads and directions including off-road through one person’s property.
The driver was apparently spooked by the many residents watching the chase – some of whom he feared were cops with spike strips.
Private vehicles “have him spooked,” the deputy said as the suspect made another turn.
The driver finally stopped and a felony arrest was made by deputies.

Meanwhile late Saturday morning, another driver lead North Augusta Police on a chase through the streets of the city – on and off W. Martintown Road. That chase latest about 20 minutes and reached speeds of about 60 miles per hour.
North Augusta Department of Public Safety officers arrested a man – but his identity has not been confirmed.

Eric Pardue chase - mug 1 2018Wagener chase

Family restaurant burns in Aiken County, SC

S.E. Social Justice Breaking News Bulletin – 1-7-17 7:45 a.m. ET

Popular restaurant burns overnight in Aiken County, SC

aiken Seafood Shack Fire 1-6-18 graphic 7

By Greg Peterson
S.E. Social Justice Breaking News
Owner, News Director
906-273-2433

(Aiken County, SC) – A popular family restaurant in Aiken County, SC was extensively damaged late Saturday night by a fire.

The fire was reported about 10:30 p.m., on Friday, Jan. 6, 2018.

Numerous fire departments were called for mutual aid to fight the blaze at the Seafood Shack and More located at 2620 Columbia Highway North in Aiken County, SC.

The restaurant has received overwhelmingly great reviews on various websites.

The restaurant is located near Harvey Court and close to Interstate 20 north of Aiken.

No word on whether the restaurant will be able to reopen or rebuild. The cause of the fire has not been released. No injuries were reported.

Firefighters remains on the scene until 1 a.m. today, Sun., Jan. 7, 2018.

Aiken Seafood Shack Fire 1-6-18 graphic 6aiken Seafood Shack Fire 1-6-18 graphic 4aiken Seafood Shack Fire 1-6-18 graphic 3Aiken Seafood Shack Fire 1-6-18 graphic 2Aiken Seafood Shack Fire 1-6-18 graphic 1Aiken Seafood Shack Fire 1-6-18 graphic 5aiken Seafood Shack Fire 1-6-18 graphic 7

High speed chase with the Georgia Patrol ends in rollover this morning – one seriously injured in Emanuel County

HAPPENING NOW – URGENT – South Eastern Social Justice Breaking News Bulletin – 12-30-17 2 a.m. ET

Georgia State Patrol chase through streets of Swainsboro this Saturday morning at year’s end – leaves two cuffed and one seriously hurt

car chase crash swainsboro 5

By Greg Peterson
South Eastern Social Justice Breaking News
Co-Owner, News Director
906-273-2433

(Swainsboro, GA) – The streets of Swainsboro, Georgia were quiet early this Saturday morning near the year’s end – until a wild car chase broke out between the Georgia State Patrol – and three fleeing suspects – that ended with a rollover and one suspect seriously injured.

2018 will be a year of recovery for one suspect who was seriously injured and trapped in the rollover.

The suspect vehicle crashed near the intersection of Old Nunez Road/Dawson Street and Sycamore Street in residential Swainsboro – a check of a map shows Old Nunez Rd. actual changed names near the crash to Dawson St.

car chase crash swainsboro 3

car chase crash swainsboro 2

The suspects were in a chase “with GSP – it’s gonna be a rollover,” said one of the first officers on the scene. The Georgia State Patrol trooper was not injured.

The chase began early today around 12:30 a.m. ET this morning, Sat., Dec. 30, 2017.

Medivac helicopter crew 911 was launched and landed at the local airport.

“Medivac 91 is going to be on standby” said the dispatcher updating police on the scene.

“Go ahead and tell them to lift off,” said a supervising officer on the scene.

“We have two in handcuffs,” one officer said adding they were being checked by paramedics and first responders. “We still got one in the vehicle partially trapped”

Two suspects – who freed themselves from the car – were immediately put in handcuffs. The pair was checked over by paramedics, however their friend is not so lucky.

A 32-year-old African American male was medivac’d to a shock trauma hospital – likely Georgia Regents University Hospital in Augusta. The man had been trapped in the demolished car for almost an hour. He was seriously injured.

The entire neighborhood was closed down by police.

car chase crash swainsboro 4

“Come down Harrington Street so they can get to the vehicle,” one of said to another. “Right here by the water tower.”

Just what started the chase with GSP isn’t clear or if officer’s found any evidence in the vehicle.

Major Fire: Funeral home ablaze in Glascock County, GA explosions heard; numerous fire departments called

South Eastern Social Justice Breaking News Bulletin and Public Safety Advisory – 5 a.m. ET

EXPLOSIONS heard inside Georgia funeral home engulfed in flames – hundreds of firefighters from several surrounding counties called for mutual aid

Gibson 4 graphic

By Greg Peterson
South Eastern Social Justice Breaking News
Co-Owner, News Director
906-273-2433

(Gibson, GA)- Fire departments from numerous Georgia counties have been called to assist at the scene of a engulfed funeral home with numerous explosions reported inside the building.

About 7 fire departments from surrounding counties have been asked to respond as mutual aid – this includes the Wrens Fire Department, the Louisville Fire department, and McDuffie County fire departments.

The dangerous blaze is reported at The Gibson Funeral home at 57 College Place in Gibson, GA.
Gibson 3Gibson 1
The fire broke out about 4 a.m. ET – and quickly Glascock County officials rang the bell for mutual aid.
Expect the entire area to be blocked most of the day.

It is unclear if there were any injuries, although we have not heard of any.
Funeral homes are known to carry volatile chemicals and flammable products.

Swainsboro Fire Department in Georgia broadcasts honor to all public servants and spotting Santa Claus via NORAD

URGENT – South Eastern Social Justice Breaking News Bulletin – 12-24-17 – Santa spotted over Georgia – 8:50 p.m. ET

Swainsboro Fire Department getting NORAD reports of Swainsboro Fire Department getting NORAD reports of Santa Claus in Georgia
Broadcast honors all those who serve their community and country

By Greg Peterson
South Eastern Social Justice Breaking News
Co-Owner, News Director
906-273-2433

Swainsboro Fire Department getting NORAD reports of Santa Claus in Georgia
Broadcast honors all those who serve their community and country.
https://www.noradsanta.org/

Fire Department
205 North Green St.
Swainsboro, GA 30401

Phone: (478) 237-8533*
Fax: (478) 237-0115

E-Mail: fire@cityofswainsboro.org
For Emergencies Call 911

Office Hours: Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm

Mike Strobridge
Chief, Fire Department

swainsboro FD trucksNORAD Tracks Santa 2

Mobile home ablaze in Aiken, SC

URGENT – South Eastern Social Justice Breaking News Bulletin – 12-24-17 – 7:25 a.m.

Christimas Eve Day: Firefighters battle mobile home blaze in Aiken, SC

Whispering Pines Mobile Home fire graphic 12-24-17

By Greg Peterson
South Eastern Social Justice Breaking News
Co-Owner, News Director
906-273-2433

(Aiken, SC) – Aiken firefighters are battling a predawn mobile home fire on Christmas Eve day.
The blaze was reported just before 7 a.m. off of Shiloh Heights Road.

The address is believed to be 1101 Pineland Terrace. Its is said to be at a mobile home between Hazel Drive and Whispering Pines Terrance.

Firefighters have laid lines across streets in the area and traffic will not be allowed on those streets for sometime.
The cause is under investigation.
No other details are available at this point.

Convenience store employee robbed while making Saturday deposit at North Augusta, SC bank

URGENT – Exclusive – South Eastern Social Justice Breaking News Bulletin – 12-23-17 – 12:12 p.m. –

North Augusta holdup: Convenience store employee robbed making Saturday bank deposit

North Augusta stickup graphic 2

By Greg Peterson
South Eastern Social Justice Breaking News
Co-Owner, News Director
906-273-2433

(North Augusta, SC) – Two state manhunt is underway for Saturday morning North Augusta, SC robbery suspect.
The Aiken County Sheriff’s Department blood hounds have been called to search for an armed robbery suspect in North Augusta. SC.
The robbery was reported about 11 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 23, 2017.
The suspect left on foot dropping some of the stolen cash on the ground – that’s why the Aiken County dogs were called.
The case is being investigated by the North Augusta Department of Public Safety. An employee of North Augusta gas station/convenience store was making a bank deposit.

NA Robbery graphic 1
The employee robbed of the overnight cash was about to make a deposit at Security Federal Bank at 315 E. Martintown Road in North Augusta.

A description of the suspect was not immediately available. Fortunately there were no injures to the employee of Greg’s Gas Plus located not far away at 6043 Jefferson Davis Highway in North Augusta.

In recent weeks, North Augusta has seen several business and bank robberies.

Exclusive – First arrest as alleged fake Georgia pain clinic busted by feds

URGENT – Exclusive – South Eastern Social Justice Breaking News Bulletin – 12-23-17 – 5:12 a.m.

Exclusive: Arrests begin in DEA raid on a south Georgia pain clinic the feds say was an opioid mill – including co-conspirator at pharmacy

Pain clinic graphic

DEA Opioid “Conspiracy” Raid: First arrest in alleged Pain Pill Mill:  Fake pain and rehab clinic in Camden County, Georgia allegedly involved in opioid sales  charging $300 per prescription – Drugs seekers sent to conspirator controlled pharmacy

Pain clinic graphic 3

By Greg Peterson
South Eastern Social Justice Breaking News
Co-Owner, News Director
906-273-2433

(St .Mary’s, Georgia) – First arrest after DEA “conspiracy” raid on an alleged fake pain and rehab clinic in Camden County, Georgia allegedly involved in the distribution of opioids charged up to $300 per prescription – and sent drugs seekers to a pharmacy controlled by co-conspirators, the feds say.

Numerous arrests are expected – however the first person charged is 46-year-old Silverly Ann May who has several Florida addresses. The clinic is near the state line.
May faces up to five years in federal prison if convicted of felony “conspiracy.”

Pain clinic graphic 2
The clinic was raid in June 2017 and the first charges were filed on Thurs., Dec. 21, 2017
In fact, the alleged conspiracy deposited over $1.2 million dollars in a bank account.
The feds allege the pain clinic trafficked illegally in opioids such as oxycodone, hydromorphone, hydrocodone, and alprazolam.

The investigation involves the “Coastline Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, a nominal pain care clinic” at 40l1 Georgia Highway 40 East in St. Mary’s, Georgia.
The alleged conspiracy began on Oct. 9, 2014 and ended on June 13, 2017 – when federal agents moved in.

The co-conspirators allegedly plan involved to “knowingly and intentionally distribute and dispense, and cause to be distributed and dispensed, quantities of controlled substances, including oxycodone, hydromorphone, and hydrocodone, Schedule II controlled substances, and alprazolam, a Schedule IV controlled substance, not for a legitimate medical purpose and not in the usual course of professional practice,” the felony federal information, a charging tool used in addition to indictments.

“Members of the conspiracy” hired and trained employees and employed one doctor (unnamed in the criminal information) in an alleged effort to look legitimate.

“Drug seeking customers typically paid between $200 and $300” to the alleged bogus clinic “in exchange for prescriptions for controlled substance.” The drug seekers then “filed at one of more pharmacies , controlled by conspirators outside the usual course of professional practice and without legitimate medial purpose,: the criminal information charges

The conspirators opened and made use of Ameris Bank” by opening an account “to promote and facilitate the criminal activity” that allegedly include numerous types of opioids.

The deposits total over $1.2 million dollars – $1,271, 940.11.
Some of money was used to pay employees and operate the alleged fake pain clinic.
The co-conspirators plan was allegedly “to conceal or disguise the nature, the location, the sources, the ownership, or control of the proceeds of specified unlawful activity,” federal prosecutors charge.

The Southern District of Georgia federal prosecutors who closed down the clinic and are expected to file more charges as part of the conspiracy:
U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia Bobby L. Christine
Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian T. Rafferty, criminal division chief
Assistant U.S. Attorney Karl I. Knoche

Jefferson County blaze: House fire battled in Louisville, Georgia

URGENT – HAPPENING NOW – South Eastern Social Justice Breaking News Bulletin – 12-21-17 – 1:40 p.m. ET – House burning in Louisville, GA

Home destroyed by fire in Louisville, GA

Louisville fire graphic.jpg

By Greg Peterson
South Eastern Social Justice Breaking News
Co-Owner, News Director
906-273-2433

(Louisville, GA) – Several fire departments have been called to fight a house fire in Jefferson County, GA.
The fire was reported about 1:10 p.m. on Thurs., Dec. 21, 2017.
The home “is fully involved,” the Jefferson County 911 dispatcher told responding firefighters.
The home is located at 1170 T. E. Buchanan Road
Assisting Jefferson County firefighters are the Louisville Fire Department and one other department.

https://www.facebook.com/LouisvilleGAFD

http://www.jeffersoncountyga.gov/211/Fire-Department

Soft on child porn – Augusta federal court? Augusta daily newspaper? – Shocking sweet deal, sentencing at federal court in Augusta as man accused of child porn of prepubescent minor engaged in explicit sex – gets that charge dropped for interstate travel sex charge – gets only five years in prison

South Eastern Social Justice Breaking News Bulletin – 12-20-17

South Carolina man who wanted to have sex with a 14-year-old Augusta, Georgia girl gets relatively light sentence, avoids child porn trial in sweetheart plea bargain

Prosecutors dropped a child porn charge involving a prepubescent child engaged in explicit sex

Plus Augusta Chronicle aka Augusta Comical dropped ball in coverage – did not even give man’s hometown – or any perspective – guess it was not that important to paper

Child Porn shocker graphic

 

By Greg Peterson
South Eastern Social Justice Breaking News
Co-Owner, News Director
906-273-2433

(Augusta, GA) – An Spartanburg, SC man indicted on federal child porn charge and trying to have sex with a young teen in Augusta, GA was given a light prison sentence after reaching a plea bargain with prosecutors.

In October, a Fort Gordon Solider received more federal prison time for child porn for less involvement.

Under the plea agreement, Kenneth Dale Smith of Spartanburg, SC pleaded guilty to travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual contact, a federal felony. He is now a convicted Georgia sex offender/child predator.
Smith dodged a big bullet with this plea agreement as prosecutors dismissed a child porn charge involving images of a prepubescent girl younger than 12 years old engaging in explicit sex. Smith is 44 years old.

Smith was sentenced last week to five years in federal prison (56 months) and 20 years supervised release. He could have been sentenced to 30 years in federal prison. Richard H. Goolsby was Smith’s defense lawyer. Pulling off such a great deal is a good start to elevating Goolsby to the legendary figure that was his father – tough prosecutor.
There is no parole in the federal prison system.
The 44-year-old Smith was sentenced by Chief U.S. District Court Judge J. Randall Hall in the Southern District of Georgia.

The original federal indictment against Smith describe the possessing of child porn charge – that was dropped as part of the agreement with federal prosecutors.

Smith did “unlawfully possess, material which contained one or more images of child pornography …. that involved a prepubescent minor, a minor who had not attained twelve (12) years of age, engaged in sexually explicit conduct, said images having been shipped or transported using a means or facility of interstate.”

Smith traveled on April 26, 2017 from South Carolina to Augusta, Georgia “for the purpose of engaging in illicit sexual conduct,” the plea agreement states.
Smith drove to Georgia for “a sexual act with a person he believed to be a 14-year-old girl,” the plea bargain states.

The federal prosecutors in the case are Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Troy Clark and Assistant U.S. Attorney Patricia Green Rhodes, lead counsel and deputy chief at criminal division.