A former school teacher from South Georgia has been sentenced to 15 years in prison after being found in possession of a vast collection of child sexual abuse material and for setting up hidden cameras in his rental property's bathroom. The 61-year-old landlord, David Swanson, was handed down the sentence on July 31, following his guilty plea to one count of possessing child pornography. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Swanson is also required to register as a sex offender when he is released from prison and will not be eligible for parole.
Swanson's hidden cameras captured disturbing footage of young children between the ages of one and 12, evidencing the invasion of privacy at a deeply personal level. A concerned citizen first alerted Ray City Police on March 1, 2023, after discovering a camera concealed in the ceiling of her bathroom. This notification prompted the police to search the premises, where they found additional cameras disguised in electrical outlets, one of which contained images of Swanson placing a small black object into his pocket.
The investigation expanded to Swanson’s other properties and his residence in Valdosta, where agents uncovered approximately 750 images and videos of child sexual abuse on his electronic devices. The contents not only included children in bathrooms but also portrayed minors in sexually explicit conduct. Some material showed evidence of Swanson utilizing peer-to-peer sharing programs and downloading files with deeply troubling titles. Despite these discoveries, authorities did not find additional cameras at Swanson’s other rental properties.
Swanson's case was part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 with a mission to track down and prosecute individuals who exploit children and to rescue victims. This multifaceted scheme, under the guidance of the U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, combines both federal and local resources.
The disturbing revelation of Swanson's actions not only highlight the need for constant vigilance in protecting the vulnerable but also attest to the untiring efforts of law enforcement agencies to bring such offenders to justice. The case was investigated by multiple agencies, including the Berrien County Sheriff’s Office, the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office, the Ray City Police Department, and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). U.S. Assistant Attorney Crawford Seals prosecuted the case for the Government.
