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On October 18, 2023, Ira Wayne Josey of Attapulgus was arrested by the Decatur County Sheriff’s Office for two counts of child pornography. The sheriff’s office began their initial investigation in November of last year, after being informed by the state, when Josey initially acquired the illegal material.

Josey has prior convictions for sex crimes against children; however, as the offenses took place prior to the creation of the sex offender registry, he is not listed in the database. Josey was arrested in 1989 for one count of sodomy, as well as one count of child molestation. In 1990, Josey was given two 20-year sentences, one per charge, to serve concurrently with each other, with 12 years to serve and a possibility for 8 years probation.

The State  Board of Pardons and Paroles paroled Josey in 1992, with the certificate reading: “It having been made to appear to the Georgia State Board of Pardons and Paroles that there is reasonable probability that the inmate named below will remain at liberty without violating the laws, and it being the opinion of said Board that the release of this inmate is not incompatible with the welfare of society… Under the authority vested in the State Board of Pardons and Paroles by the Laws of Georgia, it is hereby ordered that the inmate named below be paroled…”

Additionally, in 1996, the state commuted the prison portion of Josey’s sentence to time served; the Decatur County Superior Court suspended his monthly probation supervision fee that year as well, which was $20.00 at the time, as it was deemed “a financial hardship on the Defendant”.

Josey is currently being held in the Decatur County Jail, having been denied bond.