GBI says Eatonton man faces eight child sexual exploitation charges

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation said in a July 29, 2026, press release that it arrested and charged Jason Hicks, 55, of Eatonton in Putnam County with eight counts of Sexual Exploitation of Children.

According to the release, the GBI’s Child Exploitation and Computer Crimes Unit began investigating Hicks’ online activity in May 2026 after receiving a Cyber Tipline report from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children regarding the possession of child sexual abuse material.

The agency said the investigation led to Hicks’ arrest and to a search warrant that was executed at his home in Putnam County.

The release states that Hicks was booked into the Putnam County Jail.

The Putnam County Sheriff’s Office and the GBI Cyber Crime Center assisted with the investigation, according to the release.

The press release says the case is part of the ongoing work of the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force within the GBI’s Child Exploitation and Computer Crimes Unit.

The GBI release also includes ways for the public to report other child exploitation cases through the CEACC Unit, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children CyberTipline and anonymous tip channels.