Feds weigh charges for ex-Athens cop who sexually exploited children

By Joe Johnson

Authorities are reviewing the case of a former Athens police officer who was arrested earlier this year for sexually exploiting a child to determine if she violated federal laws.

Amber Nicole Ferguson was a patrol officer for the Athens-Clarke County Police Department in January when she was charged by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation with two counts of sexual exploitation of children.

According to court records, the 33-year-old officer had taken videos of juvenile female relatives in the shower and also touched them in a sexual manner.

The charges were brought in Jackson County where the incidents reportedly happened, as Ferguson was residing in Commerce at the time.

Piedmont Judicial Circuit District Attorney Brad Smith said he has yet to present the case to a grand jury because Ferguson is facing possible federal charges.

He said that while a police officer she sent videos of the children to someone in another country, which places the offenses within the jurisdiction of the United States Department of Justice.

The prosecutor is awaiting the results of a DOJ review of the case before deciding how to proceed on the state level.