Former Clayton County Police Officer Sentenced for Sending Obscene Matter on the Internet

CASEY AUSTIN CARMICHAEL, 29, of Peachtree City, Georgia, was sentenced October 16, 2008, by United States District Judge Willis B. Hunt, Jr, on a charge of attempting to transfer obscene matter over the internet to a person under 16 years old.

United States Attorney David E. Nahmias said of today’s sentencing, “As a police officer, this defendant abused the public’s trust and his police computer to do the exact opposite of what he was supposed to do. Instead of fighting crime and arresting those who would do harm to our children and our community, he became a criminal and a threat to children.”

CARMICHAEL was sentenced to 2 years, 9 months in prison to be followed by 3 years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. CARMICHAEL pleaded guilty to the charge on August 14, 2008.

According to United States Attorney Nahmias and the information presented in court: In September 2007, CARMICHAEL, while on duty as a Patrolman with the Clayton County Police Department, used his Department-issued computer to transfer obscene materials to a person CARMICHAEL believed to be girl under 16 years of age. CARMICHAEL had contacted her in a “chat room” on the Internet, and had conversations with her relating to obscene materials over several days while on duty as a Patrolman. The underage “girl” was actually an FBI Agent working undercover with the Safe Child Task Force. CARMICHAEL was dismissed from the Clayton County Police Department upon his indictment in this case.

This case was investigated by Special Agents of the FBI and its Safe Child Task Force.

Assistant United States Attorney David E. McClernan prosecuted the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In February 2006, the Attorney General launched Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney's Offices around the country, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

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