A Jones County man entered a guilty plea to 20 counts of sexual exploitation of children and will be spending the next 18 years in prison.
Jonathan Dylan Wright, 32, was in Jones County Superior Court Sept. 17 to enter his plea. He was represented by Defense Attorney Keith Fitzgerald. The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Cara Fiore, and the plea was accepted by Superior Court Judge Stephen Bradley. Wright was sentenced to 20 years on 19 of the 20 counts and 10 years on count 3. Counts 2 and 3 are to run consecutively but concurrently with all other counts for a total sentence of 50 years.
After service of 18 years, the remainder of the sentence is to be served on probation.
The defendant received time served in custody April 20, 2023 and Feb. 18, 2025.
Following an investigation by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Child Exploitation and Computer Crimes Unit, Wright, 29, was arrested April 20, 2023, and charged with three counts of sexual exploitation of children (visual medium depicting minor in sexually explicit conduct) and three counts of sexual exploitation of children (possession or control any material depicting minor in sexually explicit conduct).
An April 27, 2023, press release from the GBI stated that the CEACC Unit executed two residential search warrants that day regarding two separate child exploitation investigations.
Mathew Jared Mixter was also arrested April 27, 2023, and is listed on the Oct. 8 trial calendar facing 20 counts of sexual exploitation of children.
The investigations were initiated after GBI CEACC agents received cyber tips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children involving child sexual abuse material. The release states the investigation was assisted by the Jones County Sheriff’s Office.
A summary of the lengthy investigation shows it began with a tip in March of 2022. A warrant was secured for search of the suspect’s property April 20, 2023. The occupants of the home, including Wright, were interviewed. Those interviews were recorded.
The suspect’s computer, phone and other electronic devices were seized.
Warrants were subsequently secured for Wright’s arrest on charges of possession and distribution of child pornography.
