An Eatonton man arrested earlier this month on child exploitation charges was indicted by a Putnam County grand jury Monday.
Matthew Marrero Garcia, 42, of West Marion Street, was indicted on six counts of sexual exploitation of children.
Each count represented a different victim, which included three infant/ toddler girls, one infant/toddler boy, and two prepubescent girls, according to court records.
Garcia was arrested by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation on March 3 at his place of employment in Baldwin County, according to a press release from the GBI. In February, the GBI received a Cyber Tipline Report from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children regarding the possession of child sexual abuse material.
The GBI’s Child Exploitation and Computer Crimes Unit began an investigation into Garcia’s online activity, which led to his arrest.
At the time of Garcia’s arrest, Putnam County Sheriff Howard Sills said Garcia was living in a house with another adult in Eatonton. He emphasized that Garcia has lived in multiple locations around the country and has no criminal history.
The investigation is part of the ongoing effort by the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, housed with the GBI’s CEACC Unit, to identify those involved in the trade of child sexual abuse material.
Anyone with information about other cases of child exploitation is asked to contact the GBI CEACC Unit at 404-270-8870.
Anonymous tips can also be submitted by calling 1-800-597-8477, or online at gbi.georgia.gov/submit-tips-online.