A federal jury has sentenced Johnathan Remsen, a 38-year-old resident of Loganville in Walton County, to 15 years in prison after he was found guilty of possessing child pornography. This conviction stems from an investigation conducted by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI), which uncovered disturbing evidence on a peer-to-peer sharing network called BitTorrent in July 2017.

GBI’s Undercover Operation Leads to Arrest

The chain of events that ultimately led to Remsen’s arrest began when an undercover GBI agent discovered 29 videos containing child sexual abuse material. These illicit files were traced back to an IP address linked to a residence in Walton County, where Remsen resided. It was this evidence that set the wheels of justice in motion, prompting law enforcement to initiate a search of Remsen’s home in January 2018.

Admission of Guilt and Serious Consequences

The search of Remsen’s residence yielded a critical piece of evidence: a computer that belonged to him. This computer contained a disturbing cache of 2,357 images and 196 videos suspected to be child pornography. In an initial interview with investigators, Remsen claimed that the downloading of this material had been accidental. However, he later admitted that it was no accident and that he had knowingly looked at the material, though he asserted that he had never intended to download or retain it.

GBI’s investigation further revealed that the explicit photos and videos discovered on Remsen’s computer depicted children as young as 12 years old, underscoring the grave nature of the offense.

A Stern Warning Against Child Exploitation

Following his conviction, Remsen has been sentenced to serve 15 years in prison, which will be followed by a 25-year period of supervised release. In addition, he will be required to register as a sex offender for the remainder of his life after his release from prison. It is important to note that he will not be eligible for parole.

U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary emphasized the commitment of their office to utilize federal resources to hold individuals accountable for their roles in downloading, sharing, creating, or contributing to child sexual abuse and exploitation. He stressed that each time someone views child sexual abuse material, they become complicit in the heinous abuse of a child. By working alongside dedicated law enforcement and community partners, they are resolute in their mission to protect the innocent and bring child predators to justice.

The severe consequences handed down in Remsen’s case send a stern warning to those who engage in child exploitation and serve as a reminder of the unwavering commitment to safeguarding the rights and well-being of children. The case underscores the vigilance and determination of law enforcement agencies to combat child pornography and protect the most vulnerable members of society.