Milledgeville Man Arrested After GBI Trace Child Exploitation Material to Baldwin County Home

MILLEDGEVILLE, GA — A 21-year-old Baldwin County man was taken into custody Friday following a months-long investigation into the possession of illegal digital material. Zakarie Ralston, of Milledgeville, was arrested on April 24, 2026, and charged with one count of Sexual Exploitation of Children.

The investigation into Ralston’s online activity began in January 2026 after the Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s Child Exploitation and Computer Crimes Unit received a Cyber Tipline Report from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. The report flagged the potential possession of child sexual abuse material, prompting state agents to begin a forensic trace of the digital footprint associated with the report.

Investigators successfully linked the activity to Ralston’s residence in Baldwin County. On Friday morning, GBI agents executed a search warrant at the home, seizing evidence that led to Ralston’s immediate arrest. Following the operation, he was transported to the Baldwin County Jail for booking.

While the GBI acted as the lead investigative body, several other agencies provided critical technical and local support, including the Milledgeville Police Department, the Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office, and the GBI Cyber Crime Center.

The GBI encourages the public to report suspected child exploitation. Tips can be submitted to the CEACC Unit at 404-270-8870 or anonymously through the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s CyberTipline at Cybertipline.org. Additional anonymous tips can be made by calling the GBI tip line at 1-800-597-TIPS or through the “See Something, Send Something” mobile application.