Former Georgia sheriff's deputy arrested for production of child pornography involving a 7-year-old

GAINESVILLE, Ga. - A former White County, Ga., sheriff's deputy was arrested for producing child pornography Thursday morning, following an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

In May 2009, Christopher Thomas Davis, 32, of Dahlonega, Ga., took photographs of a 7-year-old female engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Photographs of the minor were taken inside of Davis' home in Dahlonega. At that time, and at the time of his arrest, Davis was employed as a sheriff's deputy with the White County Sheriff's Office. Davis has since been terminated from his law enforcement position.

"ICE HSI will aggressively use its broad investigative authorities to identify and arrest any individual who seeks to sexually exploit children in this manner," said Brock Nicholson, special agent in charge of ICE HSI in Atlanta. "This case is especially disappointing given the defendant held a position of public trust."

The investigation is part of Operation Predator, a nationwide ICE initiative to identify, investigate and arrest those who prey on children, including human traffickers, international sex tourists, Internet pornographers, and foreign-national predators whose crimes make them deportable.

ICE encourages the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free hotline at 1-866-DHS-2ICE. This hotline is staffed around the clock by investigators.

Suspected child sexual exploitation or missing children may be reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, an Operation Predator partner, at 1-800-843-5678 or http://www.cybertipline.com.

Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia Jill E. Steinberg is prosecuting the case. Davis' detention hearing is scheduled for Sept. 1.