ECSO Searches for Child Porn Suspect

The Effingham County Sheriff’s Office is searching for a man who has been possessing and distributing child pornography. Deputies are looking for Edward Holmes, 52, of Savannah.

The Effingham County Sheriff’s Office Internet Crimes Against Child Task Force executed a search warrant this afternoon at Holmes temporary residence in Chatham County. Investigators seized a computer which had several images of child pornography with children under 10 years of age.

Holmes was last seen in Quail Run Lodge off of Dean Forest Road. He drives a silver vehicle with Virginia tags. Anyone with information on Holmes whereabouts is asked to call the Effingham County Sheriff’s Office at 912-754-3449

Savannah Woman Arrested After Fighting Deputies

A savannah woman remains in the Effingham County Jail after fighting three deputies and being in possession of a large amount of marijuana.

At approximately 8 p.m. The Sheriff’s Office Traffic Enforcement Unit was conducting a road safety check at Blandford and McCall Road. Deputies made contact with Jessica Smart, 25, of Savannah. Smart was not wearing a seat belt and deputies detected a strong odor of marijuana inside of her vehicle. Deputies located marijuana as she was eating it. When attempting to arrest Smart, she violently fought three deputies. Deputies were forced to use a taser to subdue her.

Smart was taken to the Effingham County Jail where jail officers located more than an ounce and a half of marijuana in two orphasis of her body.

Smart has an extensive criminal history to include felony obstruction of a law enforcement officer, aggravated assault and other charges.

Smart is charged with two counts of felony obstruction of a law enforcement officer, tampering with and destroying evidence, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, and crossing guard lines while in possession of marijuana.

Smart was denied bond.

Registered Sex Offender Charged with Child Molestation

The Effingham County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a registered sex offender for child molestation. Robert Hart, of Meldrim was arrested by ECSO investigators Thursday afternoon following an investigation in which he molested a four year old child.

Hart was convicted for child molestation in 2006 and was remains on probation from those charges. Hart has been arrested and charged with aggravated child molestation, aggravated sodomy, and cruelty children in the first degree.

Hart remains in the Effingham County Jail

ECSO Investigates Shooting

The Effingham County Sheriff’s Office is investigating an incident where a 13 year old boy was shot. Deputies were dispatched to a residence on Go Cart Road on a report of a burglary in progress. When deputies arrived they located the teenager suffering from a gunshot wound. Initial reports indicate that the teen broke into a residence and was shot after being confronted by the homeowner.

The 13 year old was transported to Memorial Health University Medical Center with non life threatening injuries.

This case remains under investigation by the Effingham County Sheriff’s Office.

Arrest Made in Overnight Shooting

Date: May 23, 2013

The Effingham County Sheriff’s Office has made an arrest in connection with an overnight shooting which hospitalized a man who suffered from multiple gunshot wounds.

At approximately 1 a.m. deputies responded to Quail Run Circle on a report of multiple shots fired and people screaming. Once deputies arrived on the scene, they discovered what appeared to be a crime scene as well as witnesses who said the victim had been transported to Effingham Hospital. Deputies made contact with the victim, Randy Kareem Roberts, who said a male shot him during a dispute. Due the nature of Roberts’s injuries, he was transported to Memorial Health University Medical Center.

Investigators remained on the scene during the overnight hours collecting evidence and interviewing witnesses.

Just after 5 p.m. deputies arrested Jared Hartfield, 41, of Springfield, at the Effingham County Sheriff’s Office and charged him with aggravated assault. He remains in the Effingham County Jail.

ECSO Investigates Overnight Shooting

The Effingham County Sheriff’s Office is investigating an overnight shooting which hospitalized an adult male who was shot multiple times. Shortly before 1 a.m. Deputies received multiple calls from Quail Run Circle on reports of multiple gun shots and people screaming. Deputies arrived at the location and discovered a crime scene. Witnesses told deputies that the victim was driven to Effingham Hospital. Due to the severity of his injuries, he was transported to the trauma center at Memorial Health University Center.

Initial reports indicate the victim was involved in an altercation with the suspect which turned violent when the suspect began shooting.

ECSO investigators remained on scene throughout the overnight and early morning hours and are attempting to identify the suspect. This is not believed to be a random shooting. Investigators believe the victim was specifically targeted. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Effingham County Sheriff’s Office at 912-754-3449.

Sex Offender Arrested for Sexual Exploitation of a Child

Date: May 15, 2013

The Effingham County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a registered sex offender sexual exploitation of a child after finding child pornography on his computer. At approximately 4 p.m. investigators with the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force executed a search warrant at a residence on Mockingbird Drive.

Investigators received information that the suspect, Donald Wayne Stuart, 54, of Springfield, had multiple images of child pornography on his computer. Stuart was already a convicted sex offender and has previously served time in federal prison for sexual exploitation of a child.

The Effingham County Sheriff’s Office is cooperative members of the Georgia Internet Crimes against Children Task Force (ICAC). The ICAC Task Force program was created by the Department of Justice to help State and Local Law Enforcement agencies enhance their investigative response to offenders who use the Internet, online communications systems, or other computer technology to sexually exploit children. The program is currently composed of 61 regional Task Force agencies across the nation and is funded by the United States Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. Georgia’s ICAC Regional Task Force is supervised by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. The Georgia ICAC Task Force is comprised of local, state and federal law enforcement agencies within the State of Georgia.

“Protecting our children is one of the highest priorities at the Effingham County Sheriff’s Office, and we will continue to pursue these cases in the future with ICAC.” said Sheriff Jimmy McDuffie.

Stuart is currently in the Effingham County Jail awaiting a bond hearing.

ECSO Expands Search For Armed Robbery Suspect

Date: May 14, 2013

The Effingham County Sheriff’s Office has expanded their search for an armed robbery suspect who fled from deputies and is still asking for the public’s assistance.

Deputies are continuing their search for Antonial Kirkland, 18, of Springfield, who is considered to be armed and dangerous. On April 30th, deputies responded to an armed robbery on Highway 30 where the victim was robbed and struck with a pistol. An Effingham County Sheriff’s deputy spotted the suspect’s vehicle traveling on Blue Jay Road. As the deputy turned around on the vehicle, the suspects fled leading deputies on a pursuit. The suspects fled down Blue Jay Road and eventually crashed into a wooded area and into a pond.

During the search that night, ECSO located one of the suspects, Leon Clemmons, 18, of Springfield. Clemmons was arrested and charged with armed robbery.

Kirkland is wanted for armed robbery, aggravated assault, possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime, as well as several traffic related charges. Investigators have received information that since the incident, Kirkland is still in possession of a firearm. Anyone with information on Kirkland’s whereabouts is asked not to approach him as he is believed to be armed and to contact the Effingham County Sheriff’s Office at 912-754-3449.

Repeat Meth Offenders Arrested

The Effingham Sheriff’s Office Drug Suppression Unit has arrested two repeat meth offenders following an investigative stop at the Effingham Courthouse. On Thursday May 9th, 2013 Investigators received information that Robert Stanley Davis, 30, of Guyton, and James Grover, 44, of Guyton were inside of a vehicle traveling to the courthouse. Deputies located methamphetamine and roxycodone inside of the vehicle as well as in an orifice inside of Davis.

After further investigation, deputies discovered a methamphetamine lab at Grover’s residence in the 200 block of Southern Charm Way.

Grover was arrested and charged with possession of methamphetamine, unlawful possession of pseudoephedrine, and conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine.

Davis was charged with criminal attempt to manufacture methamphetamine, unlawful sale and possession of pseudoephedrine, and possession of methamphetamine.

Davis was arrested on several meth related charges including trafficking methamphetamine in April of 2012 as well as manufacturing methamphetamine in October 2012. He was currently out on bond at the time of this arrest.

Both Grover and Davis are being held in the Effingham County Jail.

Second Armed Robbery Suspect Sought By ECSO

Deputies have identified the second suspect of the armed robbery that occurred on Hester Road on April 30, 2013. Warrants have been issued for the suspect and he is still at large.

Antonial Maurice William, Jr., 18, of Guyton is wanted for armed robbery, aggravated assault and obstruction of law enforcement.

Anyone with information on the suspect’s whereabouts is asked to contact the Effingham County Sheriff’s Office at 912-754-3449.