Former Georgia sheriff’s deputy sentenced for producing child pornography
SAVANNAH, Ga. — A former Chatham County deputy sheriff, was sentenced to more than 17 years in in prison Monday based on his conviction for production of child pornography.
Richard Adam Hall, 53, was sentenced following an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Chatham County District Attorney’s Office, the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office, the Savannah-Chatham Metro Police Department and Armstrong State University’s Police Department.
According to the evidence presented at the guilty plea and sentencing hearings, Hall was under investigation by the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office for child molestation when a search of his residence resulted in the recovery of numerous sexually explicit photographs of a juvenile male. A further investigation by HSI revealed that the minor depicted in the photographs traveled with Hall to Tennessee and Florida, where the minor was molested by Hall on multiple occasions. The sexually explicit photographs of the minor were taken by Hall when the victim was approximately 12 years old. Hall’s criminal conduct occurred while he served as a deputy sheriff with the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office.
Last year, a Chatham County grand jury indicted Hall on 25 counts of child molestation and related offenses. The state charges against Hall are still pending.
“To see an individual who takes an oath to uphold the law turn and exploit that position of trust is heinous and truly heartbreaking,” said Special Agent in Charge Nick S. Annan, HSI Atlanta. “Law enforcement officers at all levels of government, including our partners at the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office in this investigation, are engaged in a desperate battle to stop child predators from victimizing and abusing the most innocent members of society. This defendant betrayed everyone in his community and everything he pretended to stand for in his pursuit of perversion. His extensive incarceration is well deserved punishment.”
United States Attorney Edward Tarver stated, “This defendant was supposed to protect the innocent; instead, he preyed on children. He now rightfully faces hundreds of months in a federal prison cell. When he’s released, he’ll then be under the watchful eye of federal probation officers for the rest of his life. The U.S. Attorney’s Office will work hard with our state and federal law enforcement partners to make sure that sex offenders who prey on the innocent will end up where they belong, in prison.”
“The Savannah Chatham Metropolitan Police Department will continue to assist and support Georgia and federal agencies to investigate and bring to justice those that violate our children. Savannah Chatham Metropolitan Police Department personnel assigned to federal task forces are performing admirably in those roles,” said Chief Joseph Lumpkin.
Chatham County Sheriff Al St. Lawrence said, “The Chatham County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) is entrusted with the safety of the public. Unfortunately, we had among our ranks one who violated that principle. After receiving information about these crimes, the CCSO conducted an investigation resulting in the arrest of former Lt. Richard A. Hall for multiple egregious offenses against children that occurred over a lengthy time period. We appreciate the job our investigators did in conducting this investigation, and the assistance of other agencies, especially the Armstrong State University Police Department's Forensic Investigation Unit. We also appreciate HSI for their fantastic assistance in concluding this investigation, and partnering with the US Attorney's Office and the District Attorney's Office to ensure that justice prevailed.”
This investigation was conducted under HSI's Operation Predator, an international initiative to protect children from sexual predators. Since the launch of Operation Predator in 2003, HSI has arrested more than 12,000 individuals for crimes against children, including the production and distribution of online child pornography, traveling overseas for sex with minors, and sex trafficking of children. In fiscal year 2014, more than 2,000 individuals were arrested by HSI special agents under this initiative.
HSI encourages the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free Tip Line at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE or by completing its online tip form. Both are staffed around the clock by investigators. Suspected child sexual exploitation or missing children may be reported to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, an Operation Predator partner, via its toll-free 24-hour hotline, 1-800-THE-LOST.
For additional information about wanted suspected child predators, download HSI's Operation Predator smartphone app or visit the online suspect alerts page.
HSI is a founding member and current chair of the Virtual Global Taskforce, an international alliance of law enforcement agencies and private industry sector partners working together to prevent and deter online child sexual abuse.
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