An information technology specialist from Metter was among 82 suspects arrested in a recent multi-state sting targeting sexual exploitation of children.

Timothy Wayne Diggs, 39, of Ponderosa Road, Metter, is behind bars at the Candler County Jail after being arrested as part of an eight-state roundup, Operation Southern Impact III, said Candler County Sheriff’s Capt. Justin Wells.

Diggs is charged with sexual exploitation of children and possession of less than an ounce of marijuana, with further charges possible, he said.

While Wells did not divulge details of Diggs’ alleged crimes, Georgia Bureau of Investigation Director Vic Reynolds said the extensive raid “focused on persons who possess and distribute child pornography and those who are sexually exploiting children in other ways using technology and the internet.”

Acting as part of the multi-state operation, Candler County Sheriff’s deputies served a search warrant for Diggs’ Ponderosa Road home Wednesday. The operation was conducted by federal, state and local agencies and involved four months planning and three days’ execution, Reynolds said.

The Candler County Sheriff’s Office is a member of the Georgia Internet Crime Against Children Task Force, Wells said.

Over 170 agencies participated in the sting, which encompassed the following states: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia.

Of the 82 arrested in all eight states, 31 were in Georgia, Reynolds said.

Seven of those 31 were alleged to plan or have traveled to meet whom they believed to be juveniles, but were actually undercover officers. Four were registered sex offenders arrested on child pornography charges; one of whom had been previously arrested by GBI in 2015 on similar charges, he said.

During Operation Southern Impact III, 17 children were either rescued or identified as victims.

Offenders arrested in Georgia ranged in ages from 20 to 70, and included a daycare administrator, youth group leader, a former high school band director, and a freelance photographer.

Out of 1,613 digital devices seized during the eight-state operation, 972 were seized in Georgia, Reynolds said. Over 200 of those were cell phones. Illegal drugs and firearms were also seized during the sting.

“Operation Southern Impact III investigators targeted those seeking out and distributing the most violent sexual abuse material involving infants and toddlers,” he said. “The possession, distribution and production of these horrific images is not uncommon.”

He warned parents of predators online. “A goal of the operation was to arrest persons who communicate with children online and then travel to meet them for the purpose of having sex,” Reynolds said. “Online child predators visit chat rooms and websites on the internet, find children, begin conversations with them, introduce sexual content and arrange a meeting” to have sex,” targeting “both boys and girls.”

Candler County Sheriff John Miles praised the operation and the cooperation of all agencies involved.

“I would like to extend my gratitude to all of the agencies involved with this operation and thank them for a job well done,” he said. “Without great cooperation between law enforcement agencies, operations of this magnitude would be far more difficult.”

This type of action against child sex predators will continue, Reynolds said.

“The Commanders of the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Forces in these states wanted to reinforce to those who harm and exploit children that (they) will tirelessly work together to make an impact in their respective states and the region as a whole,” he said.

Diggs is being held without bond in the Candler County Jail, pending further investigation.

Herald reporter Holli Deal Saxon may be reached at 912-489-9414.