A former substitute teacher, who worked at various schools in Jackson County, has been sentenced to two years in federal prison for possession of child pornography.
Ernest Leander Shaw, 66, of Nicholson was arrested last year when the Jackson County Sheriff's Office received information that he had an electronic device that contained child pornography.
U.S Attorney BJay Pak said Shaw admitted to having the images and he consented to a search of his home, telephones and other electronic devices. Pak said local investigators found hundreds of images and videos of child pornography as a result of their search.
"Child pornography is abuse of society’s most vulnerable population—young children," said Pak in a Tuesday morning press statement. "Children trust that adults and those in leadership positions will be their protector. Shaw chose to betray that trust."
U.S. District Court Judge Richard W. Story sentenced Shaw on Monday, July 1 to two years in prison, to be followed by 10 years of supervised release of which the first two years will be served on home confinement. Shaw was indicted by a federal grand jury on September 18, 2018. He pleaded guilty to the sole count in the indictment.
"There is no sentence that can ever make the victims of child pornography whole again," said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. "It is even more disheartening when a person entrusted to protect children, our most vulnerable citizens, is the person who promotes this abuse. We can only hope that Shaw's sentence will discourage others from this depraved behavior."
Jackson County Sheriff Janis Mangum also commented on Shaw's sentence.
"It is my hope that Shaw is monitored to the fullest extent and can never have access to children again, as he had access here in Jackson County in our schools. He committed horrendous acts when he possessed child pornography for his gratification and then had access to our children here in Jackson County,” said Mangum.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case against Shaw, with the initial investigation handled by the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office.
