Predator Gets 20 Year Sentence for 37 Counts of Child Porn in Georgia Multi-County Investigation
On Friday, September 13, 2024, Superior Court Judge Andrew Roper sentenced Robert Scott Sims, 71, of Buchanan, to serve 20 years in prison, with 20 years on probation to follow. This sentencing is the result of Sims guilty plea to 37 counts of Sexual Exploitation of Children (Possession of Child Pornography) and the sentencing hearing that was conducted on September 5, 2024
This case began with two cybertips that were sent to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children in 2020 from Dropbox. The tips were sent to the Georgia Bureau of Investigations and then forwarded to the GBI’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Affiliate at the Haralson County Sheriff’s Office, Inv. Heather Mecillas. During her investigation, she verified almost 7,000 CSAM (Child Sexual Abuse Material) images in the Dropbox account that belonged to Sims. The investigation also revealed a home computer with over 1 million images. When investigators started to process that, they found more CSAM images and chose not to complete processing the computer.
“I would like to thank Glenn Lyle and the Carrollton Police Department for the work they did processing evidence. I appreciate the dedication of Sgt. Mecillas on this very difficult case. I would also like to thank Deputy Chief Assistant District Attorney Sarah Japour and the entire Haralson District Attorney’s Office for their dedication in getting this verdict and sentence,” stated Sheriff Stacy Williams. “These cases are tremendously difficult for investigators and prosecutors because they have to look at these horrific images. We will continue to work these, and all crimes against children with dedication and determination.”
Chief Assistant D. A. Jaeson Smith stated, “On behalf of the Office of the District Attorney, we would like to thank the GBI ICAC Task Force, the Haralson County Sheriff’s Office and the Carrollton Police Department for the hundreds of hours put into this case. Sarah Japour and Robert Peterkin, of our Haralson County office, did a tremendous job presenting the case.”
Smith continued, “This is the largest child pornography case the Tallapoosa Circuit has ever seen. If we were to line these children shoulder to shoulder, we would have over 190 miles of children who were abused and filmed. Though most of the photos and videos originate from foreign countries, the number of images Mr. Sims possessed is equivalent to one third of every ten year old in the United States. We are grateful to Judge Roper for his sentence and hope that it sends a message to those who prey on our weakest victims.”
