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Augusta’s Morning News with John Patrick & Mary Liz Nolan

Augusta’s Morning News with John Patrick & Mary Liz Nolan

Augusta’s Morning News with John Patrick & Mary Liz Nolan

Operation Sweet Tea Nabs Augusta Area Child Predators

Author Mary Liz Nolan

“Operation Sweet Tea” has netted the arrests of three area men who are in custody in Columbia County on Sexual Exploitation of Children charges.

Grovetown Police were joined by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) task force in carrying out “Operation Sweet Tea,” which was aimed at targeting on-line child predators.

Grovetown Police Chief Jamey Kitchens said the operation began last Thursday, March 14, and continued through early Sunday morning, March 17.

“Undercover agents and investigators were engaged with over 1,000 individuals, via the internet, of which 157 verified adults expressed a desire to meet for sexual activity. despite being advised they were conversing with a “child,” said Kitchens.

Of that number, 12 said they would be willing to travel to meet with the “child” for sex, which turned out to be undercover officers.  Kitchens said some of the suspects allegedly involved in the chats were from as far away as Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Local Men Arrested During Operation Sweet Tea:

  • 33-year-old Rubicel Castro-Cruz of Edgefield, South Carolina
  • 30-year-old Anthony Daquan Harley of Aiken, South Carolina
  • 31-year-old James Charles Waller of Evans, Georgia
    Operation Sweet Tea Suspects Arrested for Sexual Exploitation of Children

    RUBICEL CASTRO-CRUZ

    Operation Sweet Tea Nets the Arrest of 3 local men for Sexual Exploitation of a Child

    ANTHONY DAQUAN HARLEY

    Operation Sweet Tea net the arrests of 3 men on sexual exploitation of children charges

    JAMES CHARLES WALLER

Charges Against Them

Castro-Cruz, Harley, and Waller were each charged with one count of Sexual Exploitation of Children.  They are being held at the Columbia County Detention Center.

Kitchens says the investigation continues and additional charges are expected.  Multiple electronic devices and two vehicles were seized as part of the operation.

“In addition, an out-of-state Registered Sex Offender was identified as one of the individuals attempting to arrange a meeting for sex with the “child” and a warrant has been issued for them as well.  Investigators are working to positively identify the remaining individuals engaged in the solicitation and additional charges and arrests are expected,” said Kitchens.

Agencies that Participated in Operation Sweet Tea:

  • Army Criminal Investigations Division
  • Columbia County Sheriff’s Office
  • Department of Community Supervision
  • Hall County Sheriff’s Office
  • Navy Criminal Investigative Service
  • Polk County Police Department
  • Waynesboro Police Department

Mary Liz is the News Director and Co-Host of Augusta’s Morning News on WGAC. She spent 11 years as a News Director at an Indiana Radio Station. She has also worked as a former Police and Courts Reporter for The Republic Newspaper and Assistant Marketing Director of Merchants National Bank in Indianapolis. Mary Liz focuses most on local breaking news stories, feature stories on upcoming events, or community-service related organizations and the people who serve them. She has been with WGAC since 1995.

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Author Mary Liz Nolan
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