Two men charged with unrelated sex offender charges will be spending decades in prison for charges in unrelated cases following a recent trip to Jones County Superior Court.
Matthew Jared Mixter was in court for a bench trial Sept. 28 in front of Superior Court Judge Amanda Petty. Unlike a jury trial, a bench trial is heard and decided by a judge after hearing all the evidence. At the conclusion of the trial, Mixter was found guilty and sentenced to 20 years each for 20 counts of sexual exploitation of children. Counts 1-3 will run consecutively and all others concurrently for a total of 60 years with the first 30 years to serve in confinement. The remainder of the sentence may be served on probation. The defendant was given credit for time served from April 20, 2023, through June 29, 2023, and since Feb. 20, 2025. Mixter was arrested on the charges April 27, 2025, following an investigation by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Child Exploitation and Computer Crimes Unit.
A press release from the GBI stated the CEACC Unit executed two residential search warrants that day regarding two separate child exploitation investigations. As a result of these investigations, Jonathan Dylan Wright, 29, was arrested and charged with six counts of sexual exploitation of children, possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and three counts of distribution of CSAM. Mixter, 32, was charged with one count of sexual exploitation of children and distribution of CSAM. Mixter’s additional charges were added following the investigation.
The investigations were initiated after GBI CEACC agents received cyber tips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children involved child sexual abuse material. The release states the investigation was assisted by the Jones County Sheriff’s Office.
A summary of the lengthy investigation states a tip was received in March of 2022. Warrants were secured for a search of the property of the suspects April 20, 2023, and occupants were interviewed.
The GBI CEACC Unit initiated two separate investigations into the internet activity of Wright and Mixter. Both investigations were initiated after GBI CEACC Agents received cyber tips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children involving child sexual abuse material.
Wright entered a negotiated guilty plea to his charges Sept. 17. He 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.
Marsh plea
Levi Marsh entered his negotiated guilty plea Sept. 28. Marsh received 20 years each for one count of child molestation and one count of statutory rape. The counts are to run consecutively for a total of 40 years with the first 20 years to serve in confinement. The remainder of his sentence may be served on probation, and he received credit for time served from Dec. 13, 2025.
Marsh had two cases, one for statutory rape and the other for child molestation and aggravated child molestation. The statutory rape charge was the result of a complaint from the victim’s mother Sept. 1, 2024, and the child molestation and aggravated child molestation charges followed a Crescent House interview with the victim in December of 2025.
Lt. Kenny Gleaton, now Captain, was the lead investigator in the case.
