A DeKalb County police sergeant is now at the center of a federal child pornography case, after FBI agents arrested him Thursday morning on a charge that officials say strikes at the heart of public trust in law enforcement.
Authorities say Sergeant Cameron Livsey is accused of accessing, or intending to view, images of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. He appeared in federal court later the same day and has been placed on administrative leave with pay while both federal investigators and DeKalb County Police internal affairs dig into the case. Officials say the investigation is active and have not released how or when the probe first began.
According to WSB-TV, FBI Atlanta said Livsey was arrested on the morning of April 30 and charged with one federal count of accessing with intent to view images of minors. The DeKalb County Police Department issued a statement saying it will conduct an internal administrative investigation and has “fully cooperated with federal authorities.” Chief Gregory Padrick underscored that the department is committed to the “highest standards of integrity and accountability,” even when that means its own officers come under scrutiny.
Marlo Graham, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta, called the allegations “especially troubling when they involve someone sworn to uphold the law,” in comments reported by CBS News Atlanta. Prosecutors have not yet released additional charging documents, and Livsey’s next court date has not been made public, leaving many of the case details still behind closed doors.
The Federal Charge Behind the Case
Livsey is accused of accessing with intent to view child sexual material, conduct that falls under 18 U.S.C. § 2252 and related federal statutes. Those laws make it a crime to knowingly possess, or knowingly access with intent to view, visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Penalties vary by subsection and by factors such as the age of the victim and any prior convictions, according to Cornell Law School's Legal Information Institute.
What Happens Next
Livsey made his initial appearance in federal court on Thursday. So far, publicly available filings are limited, and it is not yet clear what motions prosecutors will bring or whether they will seek to detain him as the case moves forward.
The DeKalb County Police Department says it will continue its administrative investigation while cooperating with the FBI, according to the department statement reported by CBS News Atlanta. Federal child exploitation cases often hinge on detailed digital forensics and can take weeks or months as agents comb through devices, online accounts, and electronic records.
As the legal process unfolds, Livsey remains presumed innocent unless and until prosecutors prove the charge in court. This story will be updated as new court filings and official statements are made public.
