A former longtime Fayette County deputy sheriff was arrested Wednesday for allegedly viewing child pornography on his work computer, according to police.
Harry “Butch” Parris, 68, of a Fayetteville address, was charged with sexual exploitation of children and violation of oath of office, according to Detective Joshua Shelton with the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office.
Parris was booked into the Fayette County jail before being transported to another holding facility, Shelton said.
The sheriff’s office learned of the alleged criminal activity in October and alerted the GBI, Shelton said.
“The Fayette County Sheriff’s Office turned over the preliminary information that had been collected and requested a full investigation,” Shelton said in an emailed press release.
Parris, who had been employed with the sheriff’s office since March 29, 1993, was fired Jan. 23, Shelton said. Parris became a certified officer in November 1995 and had worked as a deputy sheriff in the jail division.
The case against Parris could be presented to the grand jury as early as April 24, Shelton said.
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