Print
E-mail
Comment
Rate
Child porn suspect named in other cases
By Blake Spurney Editor
A local man charged with possessing child pornography images on his computer had on two prior occasions caught the attention of federal investigators.
Charles Richard Van Brackle's name surfaced in cases in Philadelphia and Dallas, according to the application for a search warrant filled out by Georgia Bureau of Investigation Special Agent Steve Blackwell.
Blackwell cited information he received from the Federal Bureau of Investigation in applying for the warrant at Van Brackle's residence.
Van Brackle, 47, Rabun Gap, was arrested Jan. 31. He remains in the White County jail in lieu of $100,000 bond.
Mountain Judicial Circuit District Attorney Brian Rickman said GBI forensics investigators had pulled 1,000 images of child porn from Van Brackle's computer. Rickman said nothing indicated that any pictures were taken in Rabun County.
FBI agents in Philadelphia learned of Van Brackle when Marcus Prince was arrested in July 2006 upon going to Scranton, Pa., to meet a 13-year-old girl for sex, according to court records. They found on Prince's computer a mailing list of those with whom he was trading child pornography. On three occasions, Prince sent images of preteen nude girls to an America Online screen name registered to Van Brackle.
Van Brackle's name resurfaced after agents executed a search warrant in November 2006 at the Texarkana, Texas, residence of Carrel Wayne Newcomb, according to court records. An examination of his computer showed he had sent images of preteen girls to a another AOL account registered to Van Brackle.
The case that led to Van Brackle's arrest began early this year in Broward County, Fla. Investigators arrested Ricky Lee Pinsky after he tried to set up a meeting with an undercover operative so he could have sex with the operative's fictional 11-year-old daughter, according to court records. Pinsky had been receiving images of child pornography from Van Brackle.
In all three cases, Van Brackle had an AOL screen name of a girl - Bethany, Connie and Maria.
Michael Van Brackle said his brother was not the only one who had access to the computer at his Little River Lane residence. Charles lived in an apartment one floor above his ex-wife and her husband, Annette and Ron Baumes. Michael said the house had another apartment on the top floor and a mattress stood in a door frame as the only divider between the units.
Van Brackle is being held in the White County jail because Ron Baumes serves as the assistant jail administrator at the Rabun County Detention Center.
"I don't believe he's going to get a fair trial in Rabun County," Michael said.
Rickman said he didn't expect others would be charged based on Van Brackle's own statements and the evidence obtained.
According to Blackwell, Van Brackle sent Pinsky six images of young girls performing sex acts or in sexually suggestive poses. Some of the girls appear to be showing the first stages of puberty.
Blackwell also noted a tip he received in July 2006 about Van Brackle from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. A screen name traced back to Van Brackle from an AOL member relayed a portion of an instant message exchange. Van Brackle, posing as Bethany3603456, wrote "anyone with young daughters wears skimpy skirts tops," according to court records.
Blackwell also wrote in his warrant application that most collectors of child pornography were compulsive record-keepers. They also typically collect drawings, personal letters, diaries, clothing, games and toys.
Items seized from Van Brackle's apartment include a pair of pink female underwear and a pair of blue underwear with a flower emblem, according to court records.
Charles Richard Van Brackle's name surfaced in cases in Philadelphia and Dallas, according to the application for a search warrant filled out by Georgia Bureau of Investigation Special Agent Steve Blackwell.
Blackwell cited information he received from the Federal Bureau of Investigation in applying for the warrant at Van Brackle's residence.
Van Brackle, 47, Rabun Gap, was arrested Jan. 31. He remains in the White County jail in lieu of $100,000 bond.
Mountain Judicial Circuit District Attorney Brian Rickman said GBI forensics investigators had pulled 1,000 images of child porn from Van Brackle's computer. Rickman said nothing indicated that any pictures were taken in Rabun County.
FBI agents in Philadelphia learned of Van Brackle when Marcus Prince was arrested in July 2006 upon going to Scranton, Pa., to meet a 13-year-old girl for sex, according to court records. They found on Prince's computer a mailing list of those with whom he was trading child pornography. On three occasions, Prince sent images of preteen nude girls to an America Online screen name registered to Van Brackle.
Van Brackle's name resurfaced after agents executed a search warrant in November 2006 at the Texarkana, Texas, residence of Carrel Wayne Newcomb, according to court records. An examination of his computer showed he had sent images of preteen girls to a another AOL account registered to Van Brackle.
The case that led to Van Brackle's arrest began early this year in Broward County, Fla. Investigators arrested Ricky Lee Pinsky after he tried to set up a meeting with an undercover operative so he could have sex with the operative's fictional 11-year-old daughter, according to court records. Pinsky had been receiving images of child pornography from Van Brackle.
In all three cases, Van Brackle had an AOL screen name of a girl - Bethany, Connie and Maria.
Michael Van Brackle said his brother was not the only one who had access to the computer at his Little River Lane residence. Charles lived in an apartment one floor above his ex-wife and her husband, Annette and Ron Baumes. Michael said the house had another apartment on the top floor and a mattress stood in a door frame as the only divider between the units.
Van Brackle is being held in the White County jail because Ron Baumes serves as the assistant jail administrator at the Rabun County Detention Center.
"I don't believe he's going to get a fair trial in Rabun County," Michael said.
Rickman said he didn't expect others would be charged based on Van Brackle's own statements and the evidence obtained.
According to Blackwell, Van Brackle sent Pinsky six images of young girls performing sex acts or in sexually suggestive poses. Some of the girls appear to be showing the first stages of puberty.
Blackwell also noted a tip he received in July 2006 about Van Brackle from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. A screen name traced back to Van Brackle from an AOL member relayed a portion of an instant message exchange. Van Brackle, posing as Bethany3603456, wrote "anyone with young daughters wears skimpy skirts tops," according to court records.
Blackwell also wrote in his warrant application that most collectors of child pornography were compulsive record-keepers. They also typically collect drawings, personal letters, diaries, clothing, games and toys.
Items seized from Van Brackle's apartment include a pair of pink female underwear and a pair of blue underwear with a flower emblem, according to court records.
 |
||
| Animal shelter launches UGA program |
Article Rating
Reader Comments
The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of theclaytontribune.com.
amy wrote on Mar 21, 2008 8:39 AM: