The Georgia Bureau of Investigation says the agency arrested a Brooklet man and charged him with Sexual Exploitation of Children.
The press release from the state agency came Wednesday, but referenced an arrest a little more than a month prior – on November 14, 2024.
The agency said 38-year-old Charles Oneal was arrested by the GBI’s Child Exploitation and Computer Crimes Unit (GCEACC).
From the press release:
The GBI CEACC Unit began an investigation into Oneal’s online activity on July 22, 2024, after receiving a Cyber Tipline Report from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) regarding the possible online possession and distribution of child sexual abuse material. This investigation led to a search warrant for Oneal’s home and his subsequent arrest. The Bulloch County Sheriff’s Office assisted with the search warrant and arrest of Oneal.
Oneal was booked into the Mitchell County Jail.
This investigation is part of the ongoing effort b the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, housed within the GBI’s Child Exploitation and Computer Crimes Unit, to identify those involved in the trade of child sexual abuse material. The ICAC Program, created by the U.S. Department of Justice, was developed in response to the increasing number of children and teenagers using the internet, the proliferation of child sexual abuse material, and the heightened online activity by predators searching for unsupervised contact with underage victims.
On December 17, 2024, Oneal appeared in Bulloch County Superior Court for a bond hearing. Represented by defense attorney Mickey Kicklighter, Oneal was given a $50,000 bond with the following conditions:
- No access to computers, tablets, smart phones, or any other device that can connect to the internet
- Waiver of 4th amendment rights
- No contact with minor children
- No presence at schools, playgrounds, or other areas minors congregate
- Complete a psychosexual evaluation within 30 days of posting bond
- Curfew of 8pm to 5am unless pre-approved for work
As of December 19, 2024, Oneal had posted bond and was released.
Anyone with information about other cases of child exploitation is asked to contact the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Child Exploitation and Computer Crimes Unit at 404-270-8870 or report via the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children CyberTipline at Cybertipline.org.
Anonymous tips can also be submitted by calling 1-800-597-TIPS (8477).
