94 N. Main Street, Jasper, GA - (706) 253-2457 
Tuesday, 19th February 2019 10:59:47am
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What are People Saying?
Inside look: Online child sex investigations
Dan Pool / Photo
Pickens sheriff detectives and command staff make the second arrest in one week of suspects who came here seeking sex with a minor Friday. Both men had been communicating online with what they thought were teen girls, but in reality was an account operated by a detective.
While Russell Michael King was being handcuffed in front of the Waffle House Friday night, Detective Steven Holmes, a large man with close cut hair and dark stubble introduced himself as “I’m [a name that matches an online profile of a 14-year-old girl].”
King, a 43-year-old from Lavonia, Ga., had found a teen account operated by the sheriff detective; initiated contact, began sexual talk, sent a photo of his genitals and arranged to meet at Waffle House in south Jasper Friday night. He was charged with electronically furnishing obscene material to a minor and child molestation.
See full story in this week's print or online editions.
Outpouring of help for homeless Marine
Disabled veteran Mike Johnson, right, with wife Vickie and Love thy Neighbor Chaplain John Naves. Naves and others in the community, including veterans’ groups are helping the Johnsons get on their feet.
Two weeks ago the Progress published a story about disabled veteran Mike Johnson and his wife Vickie, a homeless couple struggling with serious health issues – and the community has responded with a generous outpouring of support.
The Johnsons lost their home and belongings after Mike was sent to the hospital for nine weeks with pneumonia. He is also on a waiting list for a heart transplant and has diabetes.
Another arrest of someone seeking sex with minor here
Officers from the Pickens Sheriff Office arrested an 43-year-old man from the metro area coming here seeking sex with a 14-year-old girl Friday night. The arrest in a parking lot on Highway 515 is the second time (see original arrest story) in two weeks potential child molesters have made contact, sent nude photos and came to Pickens County expecting sex with what they believe to be an underage girl.
It is actually an online account used by a Pickens Sheriff Detective. The man shown here was already on probation and will face additional charges for his planned meeting. Look for full story and a behind the scenes account of how these investigations go down in next week’s Progress.
Plea deal may be in works for Miller
Mark Miller
A plea deal could be forthcoming for Jasper attorney Mark Miller who faces numerous counts of financial theft from former clients, totaling as much as $2 million. However, the well-known Jasper attorney made it plain after the close of court Monday the initial provisions offered were not acceptable.
See full story in this week's print or online editions.
PHS Junior state playwriting finalist
Nick DiPuma, a junior at Pickens High School was chosen by the professional organization Georgia Thespians, as the state finalist for his original play Why'd Ya Do It?. Nick submitted this play to the Georgia Thespians PlayWorks competition, which is a division of the Georgia Thespian Conference held in February and attended by thousands of students, directors, and colleges from all around Georgia.
