Cobb County Officer Arrested, Charged by CEACC for Distribution of Obscene Material

COBB COUNTY, Ga. – Cobb County Police have confirmed the arrest of officer Matthew Clements Abbott, aged 36, of Marietta following allegations uncovered by the Utah Attorney General’s Office during an investigation.

The Utah Attorney General’s Office contacted the Cobb County Police Department (CCPD) about Abbott’s involvement in their investigation. CCPD immediately contacted the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) which then opened their own investigation into the matter.

Abbott was taken into custody by GBI’s Child Exploitation and Computer Crimes (CEACC) Unit and charged with Violation of Oath of Office, Distribution of Obscene Material, and Public Indecency. Additional charges may be filed as the investigation continues

No details were provided as to how the officer was involved in an investigation in Utah, some 1,800 miles away. A clue can be gathered from the charge dealing with the distribution of obscene material. If the distribution involved email, text or the internet, then it could be assumed that one or more of the recipients resides in Utah.

Abbott has been relieved of duty pending the outcome of the GBI inquiry, which was opened to ensure a fair and impartial review.

Interim Chief Dan Ferrell emphasized the department’s commitment to accountability and integrity, stating the allegations “are extremely disturbing and do not reflect the values of our department.” Ferrell confirmed that an internal review has also been launched.

About the ICAC Task Force

This investigation is part of the ongoing effort by the Georgia 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 ICAC Program, created by the U.S. Department of Justice, was developed in response to the increasing number of children and teenagers using the Internet, the proliferation of child sexual abuse material, and the heightened online activity by predators searching for unsupervised contact with underage victims.

Anyone with information about cases of child exploitation is asked to contact the GBI’s 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 downloading the See Something, Send Something mobile app.