An obscene video involving a minor that went viral on social media at the end of January 2018 is still under investigation, but suspect Germaine Moore, 44, of Millbrook now faces 11 counts of Production of Child Pornography, all federal offenses, for two videos and nine images.
These charges and other details were announced today, March 27, during a morning news conference at Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) Headquarters. Participants represented law enforcement and prosecutorial agencies on the local, state and federal levels: Alabama Secretary of Law Enforcement Hal Taylor, First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Alabama Clark Morris, Elmore County District Attorney Randall Houston, and Lt. Brooke Walker, commander of both the Special Victims Unit of ALEA’s State Bureau of Investigation, and the Alabama Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force. Secretary Taylor said, “This investigation clearly demonstrates collaboration on all levels of law enforcement is key. Germaine Moore was behind bars within days because we worked as one and combined our resources.” In addition to ALEA and its ICAC and tactical team, the following agencies supported efforts to locate and arrest the suspect: Millbrook Police Department, Montgomery Police Department, Alexander City Police Department, Tallapoosa Sheriff’s Office, Etowah Sheriff’s Office, Central Alabama CrimeStoppers and Elmore County District Attorney’s Office, as well as the Michigan Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Morris said sexually assaulting children is absolutely the worst kind of crime. “Everyone -- especially parents -- wants to ensure the safety of our children. This defendant preyed upon his own family, sexually assaulted his own family and robbed these children of their childhood. It is my hope that this investigation and prosecution will keep this sexual predator from ever hurting another child,” she said. Elmore County DA Randall Houston agreed. He said, “I am pleased the U.S. Attorney’s Office got involved in this case.
Our goal all along has been to ensure this guy gets as much time as possible.” Moore should receive the maximum amount of time with four prosecuting agencies involved, Mr. Houston said, referring to his office as well as the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Alabama, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan and the Wayne County, Mich., District Attorney’s Office. Page 2 The investigation began Jan. 31, when several Alabama agencies were notified this particular video was being widely disseminated on multiple social media platforms and was seen around the world. Lt. Walker said all agencies involved at that time combined resources to locate the child and the adult male offender portrayed in the video. She added, “Close partnerships with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and Facebook developed more investigative leads, including information that led investigators to believe the video had a strong connection to the Montgomery area.”
Detroit Police Department’s Sex Crimes Unit shared a strong lead with Alabama’s ICAC Task Force. Task force members vetted the information and determined it had enough merit to support Detroit PD’s investigators to secure 11 warrants for Criminal Sexual Contact with a Child Under 13 Years of Age and other related offenses on Moore. More importantly, though, the two agencies collaborated to identify and rescue the child victims.
Secretary Taylor agreed and said it was crucial investigators identify and remove the children from the abusive situation as quickly as possible. “Those of us involved in this type of investigation remain committed to exhausting all resources, and we will do everything -- everything! -- in our power to protect children from sexual exploitation and to bring to justice those who prey on children, the most vulnerable of victims,” Secretary Taylor said.
*** Other victims or anyone whose children may have come into contact with Germaine Moore at any time are encouraged to contact the Special Victims Unit of ALEA’s State Bureau of Investigation at 334.353.1224. ***
