Local News
Local News

Appeals court upholds hefty sentence for child porn distributor

By Bill Rankin
Aug 23, 2011

The federal appeals court has upheld a 20-year prison term for a man convicted of collecting and trading images of children being sexually abused.

Charlie B. Flowers II, 34, pleaded guilty in federal court in Atlanta last October, but appealed his sentence. The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday noted Flowers had 6,966 images and 530 videos of child porn on his computer. It agreed with the sentencing judge who said the images shared by Flower were "so shocking to the conscience and so utterly repulsive" his case warranted the maximum term.

About the Author

Bill Rankin has been an AJC reporter for more than 30 years. His father, Jim Rankin, worked as an editor for the newspaper for 26 years, retiring in 1986. Bill has primarily covered the state’s court system, doing all he can do to keep the scales of justice on an even keel. Since 2015, he has been the host of the newspaper’s Breakdown podcast.

Follow Bill Rankin on twitter
More Stories

The Latest

Atlanta firefighters respond to a fatal blaze at Venetian Hills Apartments on Campbellton Road in Atlanta on March 15, 2017. A $140 million verdict awarded to the family of the tenant who died in the fire was erased Friday by the Georgia Court of Appeals. (John Spink/AJC file)

Credit: JOHN SPINK / AJC

$140M verdict axed in fatal Atlanta apartment fire lawsuit

Atlanta traffic patterns are changing, report says. How it impacts your drive.

COUNCIL POWER SHIFT

Marci Collier Overstreet declares victory in Atlanta City Council president race

Featured

Public Service Commission candidate Peter Hubbard gets a hug from Brionté McCorkle, executive director of Georgia Conservation Voters, during an election-night party in Southwest Atlanta on Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025.  (Ben Gray for the AJC)

Credit: Ben Gray for the AJC

‘Landslide’ PSC sweep jolts Georgia Democrats ahead of 2026 midterms

Georgia Democrats put Republicans 'on notice' ahead of 2026 midterms with Public Service Commission wins.

Atlanta traffic patterns are changing, report says. How it impacts your drive.

A recent study from Texas A&M University backs up what we're all seeing: Roads are clogged all day long, and by some metrics, traffic is busier than in 2019.

Mrs. America isn’t afraid to get her hands dirty

From beauty queen to cricket farmer to grief coach, Buford resident Paige Ewing keeps it real. She is the 2025 Mrs. America, and in January she will compete for Mrs. World.