A registered sex offender has been arrested after he allegedly photographed minors without the consent of their parents or guardians.
On March 20, 2025, the Sex Offender Unit of the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office interviewed James Edward Claxton, 69, a registered sex offender who lives in Douglas, while investigating another case.
During this interview, detectives examined Claxton’s cell phone and found multiple photos of minors. When asked about the children in the images, Claxton initially claimed he didn’t know how the photos ended up on his phone. He later identified the children, prompting detectives to contact the parents of the minors. This led to the discovery that Claxton had violated Georgia law O.C.G.A. 42-1-18 which states, “No registered sex offender shall intentionally photograph a minor without the consent of the minor’s parent or guardian. (c) Any registered offender who knowingly violates this code section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of a high and aggravated nature.”
As a result of this violation, Claxton was arrested and taken to the Coffee County Jail, where he will face charges for intentionally photographing a minor without consent of the minor’s parent or guardian. If convicted, Claxton could face a prison sentence ranging from one to five years.