Richard Alan Castleman, 28 of Cave Spring, was sentenced to 20 years in prison, with 5 to serve, following his conviction of a child sex crime.

Castleman was found guilty of sexual exploitation of a child.

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A two-day child pornography sting around Floyd County netted seven arrests, including a youth minister, on various child sex charges.

According to Sgt. Chris Fincher, Operation Spring Cleaning was a two-day sweep of the city of Rome, Cave Spring, and the unincorporated area to investigate suspicious cyber activity that was relayed to us by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. Those tips described images of suspected child pornography, which were later confirmed in some cases where police found graphic depictions of sex acts with children between the ages of two and 12-years-old.”

The Secret Service examined 13 items of digital evidence while on location with investigators, totaling five terabytes of data. Police took custody of 26 other devices containing an additional five terabytes of data.

The operation “Spring Cleaning” resulted in the following arrest:

Austin Wray Perkins, 25 of Rome, was arrested this week after reports said he photographed himself engaging in sexual acts with someone under the age of 16 years.

Reports said that the acts included sodomizing the child.

Perkins is charged with aggravated child molestation and two counts of sexual exploitation of a child.

Jackie Steve Autry, 65 of Rome, was arrested this week after reports said he was found in possession of child sexual abuse imaginary.

While taking him into custody he was also found in possession of a glass pipe containing methamphetamine.

Autry is charged with sexual exploitation of a child and possession of marijuana.

Jason Michael Gass, 27 of Kingston, was arrested this week after he was allegedly found in possession of child pornography and drugs.

Reports stated that Gass was found in possession of a social media app that received and exchanged files of child sexual abuse.   The acts included anal sodomy, oral sodomy, and rape.

Police added that he was found with marijuana that was packaged for distribution, THC oil and numerous smoking devices.

Gass is charged with computer pornography, possession of THC oil, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and possession of drug related objects.

Richard Alan Castleman, 26 of Cave Spring, was arrested this week after reports said he was found in possession of child sexual abuse imaginary.

Reports said that the images were stored on his cellphone.

Castleman is charged with computer pornography.

Joab  Hayden Stewart, 24 of Rome, was arrested this week after reports said he was found in possession of child sexual abuse imaginary.

Stewart is charged with sexual exploitation of a child.

Tyler Antonio Johnson, 22 of Rome, was arrested this week after reports said he was found in possession of child sexual abuse imaginary.

Johnson is charged with computer pornography.

A 16 year-old juvenile is also being held on pending charges.