Columbus, GA (August 26, 2022) – On Tuesday, August 16, 2022, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Child Exploitation and Computer Crimes (CEACC) Unit executed two unrelated search warrants in Columbus, GA. Arrested at the two homes were Kenneth Haygood, age 19, and Noah Towe, age 22, both of Columbus. Haygood was charged with three counts of sexual exploitation of children and Towe was charged with two counts of sexual exploitation of children.

The GBI CEACC Unit began an investigation into both men’s online activity after receiving cybertips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) regarding the possible online possession of child sexual abuse material. This investigation led to search warrants of the homes and subsequent criminal charges. The Muscogee County Sheriff’s Office and Phenix City (AL) Police Department assisted with the search warrant and arrest of Haygood. The Muscogee County Sheriff’s Office assisted with the search warrant and arrest of Towe. Both men were taken to the Muscogee County Jail.

This investigation is part of the ongoing effort by the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, housed within the GBI’s Child Exploitation and Computer Crimes Unit, to identify those involved in the trade of child sexual abuse material. The ICAC Program, created by the   U.S. Department of Justice, was developed in response to the increasing number of children and teenagers using the Internet, the proliferation of child sexual abuse material, and the heightened online activity by predators searching for unsupervised contact with underage victims.

Anyone with information about other cases of child exploitation is asked to contact the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Child Exploitation and Computer Crimes Unit at 404-270-8870. Anonymous tips can also be submitted by calling 1-800-597-TIPS(8477), online at https://gbi.georgia.gov/submit-tips-online, or by downloading the See Something, Send Something mobile app.

Contact

ASAC Renea Green

[email protected]