SAVANNAH: Edmund A. Booth, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia, today announced that First Sergeant Robert Higgins, stationed at Hunter Army Airfield, has been indicted by the federal grand jury in Savannah on one count of sexual exploitation of children, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2251, and one count of possession of child pornography, in violation of Title 18 United States Code, Section 2252A(a). The indictment against Higgins was the result of a joint investigation with Detective Michael Uritescu of the Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police Department, agents at the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command at Hunter Army Airfield, Special Agent Joshua Hayes of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Special Agent Tom West of Immigration and Custom Enforcement.

Booth also announced that Richard Burton, a paramedic from Effingham County, has been indicted by the federal grand jury in Savannah on seven (7) counts of possession, receipt, and transportation of child pornography, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2252A(a). The indictment against Burton was the result of a joint investigation with Special Agent John Barry and Special Agent Eugene Howard of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Chief Dan Haueter of the New Waterford Police Department in Ohio, Special Agent Joshua Hayes of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Special Agent Tom West of Immigration and Custom Enforcement. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie M. Wade in both cases.

Booth emphasized that an indictment is only an accusation and is not evidence of guilt. The defendants are entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove their guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Booth commented that these cases were brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, which is a nationwide U.S. Department of Justice initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims.