A Georgia man has been apprehended on charges of child exploitation stemming from an investigation initiated by the Madison Police Department (MPD). The discovery was made after a concerned parent notified MPD on July 25, upon finding a nude photo of an adult male on their child's tablet. As a result of search warrants executed on various internet service providers, MPD Detective Sgt. Kyle Cutshaw was able to identify the individual as Jonathan Leak, a 24-year-old from Carrollton, Georgia. Conversations and sexually explicit photos exchanged with a minor, a girl under the age of 10, were unearthed during the investigation.
Leak's capture was a joint operation; after MPD had the arrest warrant issued by Jefferson County Circuit Court, they collaborated with detectives from the Carrollton, Georgia Police Department, who took Leak into custody. As the inquiry developed, additional crimes came to light following the examination of Leak's devices by detectives in Carrollton, ultimately leading to more charges being filed against him in Georgia.
Currently, Leak is incarcerated within Georgia's prison system, and he's slated for extradition to Madison to answer for a Level 4 Felony Child Exploitation charge, according to the City of Madison Police Department post details. In their statement, MPD acknowledged the support from the Jefferson County Prosecutors' Office, Jefferson County Department of Child Services, and the instrumental assistance from the Carrollton,Georgia, Police Department.
The case against Leak is not closed; the investigation continues, and the possibility of additional charges is on the horizon as further evidence comes under review. The social media post from City of Madison Police Department also indicates, stressing that "criminal charges are merely accusations," and reminding the public that "the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law."
