Sherry Lang of the GBI (Georgia Bureau of Investigations) has issued the following statement in regards to an arrest made by the GIlmer County Sherrif’s Office.

William Sautter, 76, was arrested July 10 at his residence, 495 North Garrett Branch Road in Ellijay and charged with three counts of Sexual Exploitation of Children and one count of Tampering with Evidence. The investigation started in April of this year when law enforcement identified Sautter as someone who was trading suspected images of child pornography via the internet. When law enforcement officers went to Sautter’s home to execute a search warrant, Sautter attempted to destroy the evidence on his computer. Law enforcement officers were still able to locate numerous images of child pornography on his computer, including some images of toddlers. The search of Sautter’s residence was done by the GBI with the assistance of Gilmer County Sheriff’s Office. Sautter is being held in the Gilmer County Jail.