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Columbia County man sentenced to multiple terms of life in federal prison after conviction on child sex trafficking charges

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Columbia County man sentenced to multiple terms of life in federal prison after conviction on child sex trafficking charges


AUGUSTA, GA:  A Columbia County man convicted on 9 felony counts associated to baby intercourse trafficking has been sentenced to life in federal jail with no parole.

Michael Peyton Gunn, 37, of Evans, Ga., was sentenced to 3 phrases of life in jail after his conviction on 9 felony expenses together with Conspiracy to Have interaction in Intercourse Trafficking of a Minor, mentioned David H. Estes, U.S. Legal professional for the Southern District of Georgia. U.S. District Courtroom Chief Choose J. Randal Corridor additionally ordered Gunn to pay $800,000 in restitution, to register as a intercourse offender, and to be topic to a life time period of supervised launch if he’s free of confinement.

There is no such thing as a parole within the federal system.

“Michael Peyton Gunn inflicted unspeakable bodily and emotional torture upon his sufferer, and his wicked actions show unequivocally that he’s a hazard to society,” mentioned U.S. Legal professional Estes. “It’s solely applicable that he spend the remainder of his life behind bars.”

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Chief Choose Corridor is also scheduled right this moment to condemn Gunn’s former spouse, Amanda Gunn, a/ok/a “Amanda Howard,” 35, of Augusta. She testified in Peyton Gunn’s November 2021 trial and faces a compulsory minimal sentence of 15 years in jail after beforehand pleading responsible to Intercourse Trafficking Conspiracy.

A U.S. District Courtroom jury on Nov. 18, 2021, discovered Peyton Gunn responsible of all 9 expenses introduced in a superseding federal indictment, together with Conspiracy to Have interaction in Intercourse Trafficking of a Minor; Intercourse Trafficking of a Youngster; Coercion and Enticement of a Minor to Have interaction in Sexual Exercise; 4 counts of Manufacturing of Youngster Pornography; Possession of Youngster Pornography; and Obstruction of a Intercourse-Trafficking Investigation. On Tuesday, Might 24, Chief Choose Corridor sentenced Gunn to concurrent phrases of life in jail on the primary three counts; 30-year phrases on every depend of Manufacturing of Youngster Pornography; a 20-year time period for Possession of Youngster Pornography; and a 25-year time period for Obstruction of a Intercourse-Trafficking Investigation. 

The minor sufferer testified throughout Peyton Gunn’s trial that he employed rewards, concern, threats of hurt, bodily abuse, and intimidation to psychologically manipulate and sexually abuse the sufferer as younger as age 7. His actions steadily progressed from coercing the sufferer to take part in manufacturing of kid pornography and ultimately to forcing the minor sufferer to undergo industrial intercourse trafficking facilitated by internet advertising.

“Gunn preyed on an harmless baby solely for his personal pleasure, with out regard to the grievous and long-lasting hurt his wicked conduct would trigger,” mentioned Keri Farley, Particular Agent in Cost of FBI Atlanta. “Nevertheless, due to the devoted work from our brokers who aggressively pursue these heinous criminals, Gunn will spend the remainder of his life behind bars the place he won’t ever be capable of hurt one other baby.”

The investigation started in February 2020 when FBI brokers assisted with a baby pornography case in Hopkins County, Texas. Among the many contraband pictures brokers found have been greater than 700 pictures – lots of them depicting sexually express baby exploitation – that includes a person minor sufferer. Digital location data recognized these pictures as having originated from the neighborhood of Gunn’s residence in Evans. Brokers from the Augusta FBI workplace later questioned Gunn and searched his house, the place they discovered proof of the manufacturing of kid pornography and exploitation of the minor sufferer, together with digital gadgets storing a number of graphic pictures of kid sexual exploitation, torture, and abuse.

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The persevering with investigation led to a superseding indictment that added Amanda Gunn as a defendant for her participation within the sex-trafficking conspiracy and obstruction of the investigation. She admitted her guilt and testified in courtroom throughout Peyton Gunn’s trial.

Additionally testifying in courtroom was Jonathan Eugene Grantham, 45, of Graniteville, S.C., who’s serving 140 months in federal jail after pleading responsible in August 2021 to Coercion and Enticement of a Minor to Have interaction in Sexual Exercise. Grantham, a former Aiken County highschool trainer, admitted that he responded to a web based commercial trafficking the minor sufferer, after which traveled from South Carolina to Evans to move the minor sufferer to a motel for intercourse in return for cost.

The FBI investigated the case, and Assistant U.S. Legal professional and Undertaking Protected Childhood Coordinator Tara M. Lyons prosecuted the case for america.

Anybody with data on suspected baby sexual exploitation can contact the Nationwide Middle for Lacking and Exploited Youngsters at 800-843-5678, or https://report.cybertip.org/.



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Augusta, GA

Study finds Ga. food deserts growing at alarming rate

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Study finds Ga. food deserts growing at alarming rate


AUGUSTA, Ga. – Nearly a million people living in Georgia have limited access to a full-service supermarket, according to a study by the Reinvestment Fund.

The “limited supermarket access analysis” found the disparity is growing due to rapid population growth in the state.

Christina Szczepanski with the Reinvestment Fund says more people are moving into rural or urban communities that lack resources, “Retail lags. It takes a much longer time frame for grocery stores and other types of retailers just can’t catch up.”

As defined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, a food desert means people have to travel more than a mile to a grocery store for fresh food.

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In Augusta, having to travel on multiple buses just to gain access to fresh food used to be the reality for Harrisburg and Laney Walker neighbors.

Part of that is being addressed by the Veggie Park farmers market at the HUB for Community Innovation on Chaffee Avenue.

Every week 200 to 400 people walk inside the HUB looking at the fresh food options.

There’s also help through the Georgia Food for Health Program.

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Augusta, GA

WAFJ radio mourns loss of former General Manager Steve Swanson

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WAFJ radio mourns loss of former General Manager Steve Swanson


AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – WAFJ radio is mourning the loss of its former general manager, Steve Swanson.

The family-friendly Christian radio station in North Augusta asked members of the public to pray for his wife Susie, along with their children and grandchildren.

“We are grateful for his imprint on this ministry and for the Christ-filled legacy of his life!” the station posted on Facebook.

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Augusta, GA

Downtown Augusta businesses remain hopeful despite ongoing construction

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Downtown Augusta businesses remain hopeful despite ongoing construction


AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – It’s fair to say that Augusta saw a busy St. Patrick’s Day weekend.

Road work was a major factor that impacted some plans. These projects will still be going on as golf lovers head to Augusta.

At almost every corner in downtown Augusta, there are signs of progress and growth, and behind it all is a local shop or two.

“We’re still here. That’s right. You got it. We’ll just hope for the best,” said Luanna Hildebrant, owner of Hildebrant’s.

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Hildebrant’s sits on 6th Street and has for decades.

“The construction has hindered us, but I think it’s going to be better once it’s done,” said Hildebrant.

A couple of streets over is Cafe on 8th, which opened in April 2023.

“It was definitely a slow start and with that going on, it didn’t help anything. There is a patrolman sitting right in front of the restaurant and that kind of throws people off, especially with this road being closed,” said manager Jerome Kenly.

13th Street, 5th Street, 6th Street and Greene Street are set to be completed in 2025, Telfair Street in 2026 and Broad Street in 2027.

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“We get the most success from our customers and clients. They’re putting it up on our reviews and stuff like that. They’re saying don’t let it discourage you just come on down,” said Kenly.

These projects are not small and take time to complete, but businesses are looking ahead at what’s to come.



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