EVANS, Ga. () – A Columbia County man was sentenced to federal prison this week for possessing child pornography, the United States Department of Justice announced Friday, Sept. 26.

Perry Jason Ward, 27, of Evans, Ga., was sentenced to 84 months for possessing images of sexual exploitation of children.

Ward has also been ordered by judge to register as a sex offender, pay $96,000 in restitution, pay $200 in special assessments, and serve 15 years of supervised release upon completion of the prison term.

According to court documents, Ward used the internet to obtain 45,792 images and 4,609 videos containing child sexual abuse material (CSAM).

The Columbia County Sherriff’s Office received multiple CyberTips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) and executed a search warrant on Ward’s residence in October of 2023.  Ward reportedly faces additional charges for other conduct in Columbia County Superior Court.  

“Crimes that exploit children are among the most disturbing cases we investigate,” said FBI Atlanta Special Agent in Charge Paul Brown. “This sentence reflects our commitment to pursuing those who traffic in child sexual abuse material and ensuring they are held accountable. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to protect children and remove predators from our communities.”