ROSWELL, Ga. — A Johns Creek man is behind bars after being arrested for possession of child sexual abuse material.
According to the Roswell Police Department, 59-year-old Ralph Britt Jr. faces multiple charges of sexual exploitation of children.
In February, detectives began an investigation into child sex abuse material being transmitted locally through peer-to-peer file-sharing networks.
The investigation led detectives to Britt's Johns Creek home, where police later conducted a search warrant on April 24. Detectives found more child sexual abuse material at the home and seized multiple electronic items.
On the same day, police arrested Britt at his job, Dunwoody Baptist Church, where he had worked with children in multiple capacities over the past 20 years. Police said no criminal activity had been perpetrated at the church.
"We’re dealing with victims that are the most vulnerable of our population," Roswell Police Officer Tim Lupo said. "That’s why we have a dedicated team of investigators that works specifically on these cases. Part of what they do is maintain a presence in file sharing networks, where they identify pieces of child sexual abuse material that we’re able to more or less look for being shared out in the web.”
According to arrest warrants, Britt admitted to officers that the computer seized belonged to him and that he was the only one ever to use it. Warrants also show that the victims ranged in age from five to ten.
"It is certainly not a victimless crime. Just the material being produced or in circulation in general is already victimizing those who have been a part of that," Lupo said. “Having that conversation at all is the most important thing. Have those frank discussions with your children about online and internet safety, and make sure you’re maintaining a presence in what your child is doing online, because these people are out there looking to victimize the most vulnerable in our community, and we need to be having those frank discussions with them to prepare them for that.”
Britt was booked into the Fulton County Jail and charged with nine counts of sexual exploitation of children, with more charges expected.
Police said Dunwoody Baptist Church, which has about 1,500 members and 120 employees, has been fully cooperative with the ongoing investigation. Senior Pastor Allen Jackson said there was no prior indication that Britt could have engaged in such activity. Jackson said Britt worked as a volunteer at the church before being paid as a staff member who worked in the church's fitness center.
"It was a shock to all of us," Jackson said. “We have a pretty robust system of protocols and checks and balances. We have a pretty good number of cameras that cover almost every space here. We have a pretty stringent interview process, a pretty robust system of background checks and training modules.”
Jackson said church leadership has been keeping the congregation updated on the situation. He said there were counseling resources available for those who needed it.
The Roswell Police Department is asking anyone with information to contact Detective B. Heath at 770-640-4512 or bheath@roswellgov.com. Anonymous information can be provided through CrimeStoppers Atlanta at 404-577-TIPS(8477) or online at www.StopCrimeATL.org.
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