Paulding Man Arrested for Possession of Child Pornography

(Paulding County, GA) The Paulding County Sheriff’s Office Juvenile Investigations Division, as an affiliate of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, participated in Operation Southern Impact III. Operation Southern Impact is a multi-jurisdictional multi-state operation that focuses on arresting persons in possession of child pornography or persons who sexually exploit children using technology.
On May 1, 2019, a search warrant was executed at 23 Greystone Way Hiram, Georgia in reference to possession and distribution of child pornography. Deputies from the Warrants Division, Juvenile Investigations Division were assisted by the Hiram Police Department in the execution of that search warrant.
During the search warrant, several computers and other electronic devices were taken. The suspect, identified as Blake Lawrence Darnell (W/M, 30 YOA), later admitted to Detectives that he had downloaded child pornography. During a subsequent exam of his computer and other electronic devices, multiple images and videos of known and suspected child pornography were discovered.
On May 10, 2019, Darnell was arrested and charged with 2 Counts of Sexual Exploitation of Children (OCGA 16-12-100). One count was for possession of child pornography and the other count was for the distribution of child pornography.
If you have any information about this case or any case involving child pornography, please call the Juvenile Investigations Division of the Paulding County Sheriff’s Office at (770) 443-3016.