March 10, 2022–11:32 a.m.
STAFF REPORTS/FLOYD COUNTY POLICE
An operation to purge the community of child pornography has resulted in the Floyd County Police Department rescuing one child from a home where pornography was being produced by a guardian who was serving the community as a youth leader.
The juvenile was living with a youth minister, identified as 25-year old Austin Wray Perkins of Rome.
Police say Perkins was coaching the child about how to act in the videos and was also engaging in acts of child molestation.
The child had no family for support and had been taken in by Perkins for care.
Seven people, including one juvenile, have been arrested up to this point.
Stacks of phones, computers, game systems, and storage devices containing child pornography have been collected.
The police department used information from cyber tips that were collected from the Internet Crimes Against Children Division of the GBI.
Floyd County Police was also assisted by the United States Secret Service Cyber Crime task Force for “Operation Spring Cleaning,” which includes two investigators from the Cobb County Police Department.
Those arrested and the charges against them:
Jackie Steve Autry, age 65, of Rome
Occupation: Unemployed
Sexual exploitation of children
Possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine).
He remains in jail on $15,000 bond
Richard Castleman, age 26, of Cave Spring
Occupation: Unemployed
Computer pornography
Released from jail on $15,000 bond
Jason Gass, age 27, of Rome
Occupation: Construction
Computer pornography
Possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute
Possession of drug-related objects
Possession of THC oil.
Released from jail on $15,000
Tyler Johnson, age 22, of Rome
Occupation: Unemployed
Computer pornography
Released from jail on $15,000
Austin Ray Perkins, age 25, or Rome
Occupation: Youth Minister
Sexual exploitation of children (two counts)
Aggravated child molestation.
Remains in jail with no bond
Joab Stewart, age 24, of Rome
Sexual exploitation of children
Released from jail on $15,000 bond.
One juvenile, age 16, was also arrested. Charges are pending review
