A former Leon County corrections officer has been arrested on nearly two dozen charges related to child pornography.
The Leon County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) says 60-year-old James Linton was fired last February after a joint investigation with the Dekalb County Police Department in Georgia.
LCSO says further investigation revealed Linton was purchasing and possessing child sexual abuse material online. He was also distributing it to a minor, believed by him to be 14 years old, in Leon County.
The sheriff’s office obtained warrants for Linton’s arrest and he was taken into custody Friday by members of the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force.
LCSO press release:
In February of 2022, the Dekalb County Police Department (Georgia) contacted the Leon County Sheriff's Office to assist with an active investigation involving a male who was possibly soliciting minors online.
A joint investigation was conducted and revealed the suspect was a Leon County Sheriff’s Office corrections officer, James Linton. The Dekalb County Police Department obtained warrants for Linton’s arrest, and he was taken into custody by members of the Leon County Sheriff’s Office. Linton’s employment was terminated on February 28, 2022.
A lengthy in-depth investigation by the Leon County Sheriff’s Office Internet Crimes Against Children Unit revealed Linton was purchasing and possessing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) online as well as distributing it to a minor believed by him to be 14 years old in the jurisdiction of Leon County.
LCSO obtained warrants for Linton’s arrest and on Friday, November 4, members of the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force arrested Linton without incident. He was transported to the Leon County Detention Facility.
The Tallahassee division of the task force includes deputies from LCSO, the Tallahassee Police Department, the State Attorney's Office, the Perry Police Department and sheriff's offices in Gadsden, Madison, and Wakulla counties.
NAME: James Linton
DOB: 10/28/1962
CHARGES:
• 20 counts of Aggravated Possession of Child Pornography
• 1 count of Distribution of Child Pornography
• 1 count of Use of Computer to Seduce/Solicit/Lure Child
