GBI arrests McDuffie County man for sexual exploitation of children

THOMSON, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - A McDuffie County man has been arrested and charged with four counts of sexual exploitation of children, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

Harold Ryan, 42, was arrested on Dec. 18, according to authorities.

The agency says an investigation into Ryan’s illicit online activity began in Sept. 2024 after receiving numerous CyberTips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children involving possession of child sexual abuse material.

“The investigation led to a search warrant at Ryan’s home and his subsequent arrest,” the agency said in a press release.

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Ryan was booked into the McDuffie County Jail, according to the agency.

“This investigation is part of the ongoing effort by the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, housed within the GBI’s Child Exploitation and Computer Crimes Unit, to identify those involved in the trade of child sexual abuse material,” the agency said in a press release.

Anyone with information about other cases of child exploitation is asked to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Child Exploitation and Computer Crimes Unit at 404-270-8870 or report via the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children CyberTipline at CyberTipline.org.

Anonymous tips can also be submitted by calling 1-800-597-TIPS (8477), online at https://gbi.georgia.gov/submit-tips-online, or by ing the See Something, Send Something mobile app.