SUPERIOR COURT
A 28-year-old Hazlehurst man was sentenced to a total of 15 years for the charge of computer pornography that resulted from his online relationship with a 12-year-old.
Ronnie Lee Roberson was in Jones County Superior Court Feb.
23 to enter his guilty plea to three counts of computer pornography.
He received sentences of 15 years for each count to run concurrently for a total of 15 years. The first two years of the sentence were ordered to be served in confinement, and the defendant will receive credit for time served in custody from July 22, 2022.
The remainder of sentence may be served on probation.
When he was arrested, Roberson was charged with sexual exploitation of children – employing a minor to engage in sexually explicit contact.
He was indicted Oct. 11 by a Jones County Grand Jury for three counts of computer pornography.
His indictment stated that he utilized internet services to seduce, solicit, lure or entice a child under 16 to commit an act of act of aggravated child molestation.
Roberson’s case started with a June 5, 2022, report received by Jones County Sheriff’s Department Deputy John Kile in reference to sexual exploitation of children.
The complainant was the mother of the 12-year-old victim.
The mother told Kile she found that afternoon that her daughter had an adult friend named Robbie Roberson who had been chatting with her via text message, Snapchat and Facebook Messenger.
Kile said he was able to find the Facebook profile of Roberson and using profile pictures matched him to the picture he sent to the juvenile. The deputy said a further examination of the phone revealed sexual remarks and overtures made to the 12-year-old.
Kile said Roberson told the juvenile he was 16 and asked for nude pictures of her. He also sent the juvenile nude pictures of himself. The deputy said the social media contact had taken place for over a month.
Kile said he turned the evidence over to investigations, and Roberson was arrested July 22.
