The man arrested earlier this month on a charge of possession of child pornography in Lumpkin County now faces 30 counts of the same charge, authorities said Friday morning.
Paul Travis Williams, 48, is the former director of the Wahsega 4-H Center. Acting on a tip from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation's Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, authorities executed a search warrant at Williams' home at the center on September 15.
He was initially arrested on October 12 after authorities with the Lumpkin County Sheriff's Office, GBI and University of Georgia Police said they found one of the images reported in the initial tip on a hard drive at the residence.
In addition to announcing the new charges Friday, authorities released more details about the initial search of the home that belongs to the 4-H center.
"Located in the residence of Mr. Williams was an internet service that was password protected. The service contract with the provider was in Mr. Williams' name," a Friday media release from the sheriff's office stated. "An additional hard drive, for the PC, was located in a safe that was secured and locked by Mr. Williams. This hard drive was found to contain at least one of the images reported by the ICAC tip."
Investigators collected more than 20 electronic storage devices during the search, another new detail released Friday.
According to the update, digital forensic investigators with UGA Police have since discovered thousands of images and videos of child pornography on Williams' storage devices.
Williams was arrested on the additional warrants Thursday in Pulaski County. He has since been transported back to Lumpkin County, according to the sheriff's office.
In Friday's release, authorities said forensic investigators are confident the images discovered are not recent and were not generated at the 4-H center or in Williams' residence there. It goes on to state that authorities don't believe any of the images involved 4-H campers.
"A search of all the other facilities at Lumpkin County's 4-H Camp was completed and no additional evidence was found nor were any video recording devices located," authorities stated. "No children or campers were present when the initial images were uploaded to the internet."
Following the initial charge, Williams' attorney, Catherine Bernard, said Williams completely denied any involvement with child pornography.
"Travis has nothing to hide, and he is confident that a thorough investigation will show that he is innocent of any wrongdoing," Bernard said. "He is grateful to all of the members of the community who have reached out to support him during this difficult time, and prays for a swift and just resolution to this serious matter."
Also following the initial charge, a spokesman with UGA confirmed Williams' employment had been terminated. 4-H programs in the state fall under UGA Extension.
