CHATTOOGA COUNTY, Ga. — A DeKalb County Schools employee was arrested Tuesday in Georgia following an investigation related to child pornography and unlawful surveillance.
The DeKalb County School System released a statement Wednesday confirming the employee has been removed from his duties pending the outcome of the investigation. The school district emphasized that the charges are not connected to any DeKalb County students and did not occur on any school campuses.
Authorities have identified the suspect as 36-year-old Michael Brown. Jail records from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office show Brown faces a lengthy list of charges, including:
- Six counts of sexual exploitation of a child
- Six counts of computer pornography
- Eleven counts of unlawful eavesdropping or surveillance
- Two counts of possession, sale, or distribution of eavesdropping devices
- Eleven counts of surreptitious recording of intimate parts
- Five counts of prohibition on nude or sexually explicit materials
In a statement, the DeKalb County School System said the arrest was the result of an ongoing investigation by the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office and the United States Department of Homeland Security. (See full statement below that was released by the DeKalb County Schools system).
“At this time, we can confirm that the charges are not connected to our students and did not occur on our campuses,” the statement read. “However, due to the serious nature of the allegations, DeKalb County Schools, in conjunction with the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office, has launched an internal investigation to ensure the privacy, safety, and well-being of our students have not been compromised.”
The school system added that the employee has been removed from all duties and reiterated its commitment to student safety.
“The safety of our students is our top priority. We are working in full cooperation with law enforcement and will take all necessary steps to protect our students and staff. Any violation of trust or abuse of position will be met with immediate and appropriate action,” the statement continued.
School officials asked for the public’s patience as the investigation continues and assured the community of their commitment to transparency, accountability, and the highest standards of student protection.
This is a developing story. Further updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
