It took at least five different agencies working together to arrest a Georgia man for child sex abuse.
Darvin Williams, 27, of Douglasville, Georgia, was apprehended Feb. 1, 2024, in Union City, Georgia. He was charged in state court in Alabama with second-degree rape, four counts of second-degree sodomy, electronic solicitation of a minor, interference with child custody, facilitating travel/enticing a child for immoral purposes and traveling to meet a child for an unlawful sex act.
Tallassee Police Department investigators worked with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s State Bureau of Investigation, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, the Fulton County (Georgia) Sheriff’s Department and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. According to an investigation the Tallassee Police Department was a part of, Williams likely faces charges in Georgia related to the same victims.
At the recommendation of the Alabama Attorney General’s Office, the case was presented to the U.S. Attorney’s Office to prosecute in federal court.
“To simplify things, it made sense to allow it to happen,” Tallassee investigator Chase Wilks said. “There were crimes in two states. It would have been very difficult to prosecute in state court because it crossed state lines.”
The federal courts can cross state lines. According to federal court documents, the case was presented to a federal grand jury and indicted in October 2024. Williams was indicted on one count each of production of child pornography, transportation of a minor, coercion and enticement and transfer of obscene matter to a minor.
On Jan. 29, Williams pled guilty to transportation of a minor and coercion and enticement. He agreed to do so and serve 20 years in a federal prison.
As part of the plea, Williams disclosed what he did to be guilty.
The federal indictment said there were two victims under the age of 18. Williams’ plea only references one. He states communication began with the victim in December 2023 with a 12-year-old Elmore County resident via cellphone and Instagram messages. It continued into January 2024.
“She was coerced and enticed to engage in sexual activity,” the court document states. “Through multiple messages over approximately a month's time, the defendant persuaded (the victim) to allow him to come pick her up and discussed his desire for sexual activity with her on
multiple occasions.”
Williams traveled to Tallassee on Jan. 8, 2024, and transported her to Georgia.
“... and intended to engage in sexual activity with (the victim),” court documents state. “The defendant engaged in sexual activity with (the victim).”
A federal magistrate judge has accepted Williams’ plea but also ordered a presentencing background check. If a judge sentences Williams to more than 20 years, he has the right to recant his plea and proceed to trial.
