Augusta, GA
Augusta experts share important warning signs of human trafficking
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Georgia ranks sixth in the nation for sex trafficking, and local experts say Richmond County sees more child sex trafficking than anywhere else in the state.
For a problem that is growing not only in Georgia but nationwide, experts say there’s a huge misconception surrounding human trafficking.
“I think our generation got introduced to the topic of human trafficking through movies like Taken or Sound of Freedom. But the reality is that’s not what trafficking looks like in our community. It’s not what it looks like in most communities,” said District Attorney Jared Williams.
On Tuesday, experts who deal directly with sex crimes and trafficking in the Augusta community explained to students at Augusta University that trafficking looks like comfort and trust.
Richmond County Sheriff’s Office Investigator Terry Gore said: “You always think of the man in the white panel van with puppies on the side. No. Traffickers are family or friends.”
Williams said: “It’s often familial, meaning that there’s a family member who’s involved in exploiting their loved one or it’s gang-related. We see a lot of that.”
And there is no safe age.
“The youngest victim that I have right now is 4 days old. My youngest person that’s been sending out nudes is 6. These people got a hold of her at 6 years old to send them out,” said Gore.
The way to reduce the numbers is to first know the signs.
GBI Agent Anita Ivy said: “In school, you’ll notice a lot of absences, change in behavior, and appearance, dressing provocatively and carrying two cell phones.”
The best way to combat it is by supporting resources in the community.
Williams said: “We have a lot of great organizations like Child Enrichment, who are doing a lot. We have the Sexual Assault Resource Center, they’re doing a lot to help. But we need more funding for those organizations and we need better access to care and treatment after the fact.”
Leaders say to talk to your kids about what is going on in their lives and check their cell phones and the apps they are on.
Be aware of the time they are on the devices.
Also in the news
- On Wednesday, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp and first lady Marty Kemp will be joined by state and local leaders at a ceremony to sign bills fighting human trafficking. At 10 a.m. at the state Capitol in Atlanta, the governor will deliver remarks prior to signing Senate Bill 370, House Bill 993 and House Bill 1201.
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AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Democratic candidate for Georgia governor Olu Brown visited Augusta on Friday evening, stopping near the Sand Hills Community Center as early voting continues.
Brown is one of six candidates in the Democratic primary.
Campaign priorities
Brown said his vision as governor would focus on three main areas.
“One, it’s affordability around health care and making sure we expand Medicaid and expand Peach Care and make sure we continue to make our rural health care systems healthy and vital,” Brown said. “Number two, we’ve got to address education in all of Georgia, making sure every kid in Georgia gets an excellent education, and we’re paying our teachers more. And number 3, we’re protecting the rights of all women. Folks in the Gold Dome shouldn’t be making decisions about their bodies or the choices that they make.”
Brown is running against Amanda Duffy, Derrick Jackson, Geoff Duncan, Jason Esteves, Keisha Lance Bottoms and Mike Thurmond.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – An Augusta Prep student was arrested on a charge of terroristic threats over a picture of a LEGO gun he posted on social media.
It happened Wednesday, according to an incident report from the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office.
Eric Hedinger, the principal of Augusta Preparatory Day School, told deputies a student had uploaded a picture to Snapchat of a “pistol” with the caption “shooting up the school so I don`t have to take the stats exam tomorrow. Don`t come yall!”
The principal said he spoke to the student and his father about the photo.
The principal also provided deputies with the student’s address in Grovetown.
A deputy went there and was told by the student that the “pistol” was a LEGO set that he had built.
He also said the comment he made was supposed to be a joke because he was not looking forward to taking his Advanced Placement statistics test this week.
The student showed the deputy the box that the LEGO set came in, and how the set was already disassembled.
The deputy also looked in the boy’s room to make sure he was not in possession of any weapons.
The mother advised that there was one firearm in the residence but it was locked up.
The deputy contacted Judge Leslie Morgan and she issued a warrant for terroristic threats.
The student, age 18, was taken into custody and transported to the Columbia County Detention Center.
News 12 is not reporting his name or publishing his photo since the LEGO gun could not have actually harmed anyone.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
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