A Jones County man was in superior court last week to enter guilty pleas to felony charges of invasion of privacy and the sexual exploitation of children and is on his way to prison.
Joseph Hamilton Lunsford, 34, pleaded guilty to the charges Sept. 12. He was sentenced to five years each for two counts of invasion of privacy, 10 years for the charge of criminal attempt to commit a felony and 20 years for the charge of sexual exploitation of children.
The counts will run concurrently for a total of 20 years with the first five years served in confinement. He will receive credit for time served in custody from March 19.
The charge of sexual exploitation of children involves the possession of a visual medium depicting a minor in sexually explicit conduct.
In a report about Lunsford’s arrest by Jones County Sheriff’s Office Investigator Lt. Kenny Gleaton, he met with Georgia Bureau of Investigation Special Agent Ethan Brown March 18 in reference to the case.
The investigator said the case involved allegations of possession of child sexual abuse material. He was told by Brown that images and videos were uncovered that led him to believe the case also involved the illegal surveillance of an adult female.
Gleaton was provided the evidence to review and determined there was reason to further investigate the unlawful surveillance case. The investigator said he was accompanied by JCSO Investigator Crystal Murphy when he made contact with the victim.
Following that interview, he said sufficient probable cause existed to apply for an arrest warrant against Lunsford. Gleaton said a search warrant was executed at Lunsford’s residence with the assistance of Murphy, JCSO Corp. Jeff Sullivan and Brown.
Gleaton said the warrant led to recovery of evidence of the crime, which was seized at the scene. He said an interview with an individual at the residence provided more information pertinent to the investigation.
The lieutenant said Lunsford was arrested that same day at his place of employment by members for the U.S. Marshals Southeast Regional Fugitive Task Force.
Gleaton said he and Brown interviewed Lunsford at the Jones County Law Enforcement Center following his arrest. The investigator said, during the recorded interview, the suspect, who declined having an attorney present, made incriminating statements in regard to the unlawful surveillance of the adult victim, the unlawful surveillance of a juvenile victim and the possession of child sexual abuse material.
Lunsford was subsequently arrested and charged with two counts of the unlawful eavesdropping or surveillance and sexual exploitation of children.
