The Coffee County Sheriff’s Office has issued the following statement regarding the arrest, prosecution, and sentencing of sex offender Charlie Franklin Stevens. Stevens was convicted of offenses in Pierce and Coffee counties and received 60 years in state prison for the Pierce County convictions and 40 years for the Coffee County convictions, to be served concurrently.
Stevens was first convicted of Child Molestation in Lowndes County, Georgia, in 2018 and was placed on the Georgia Sex Offender Registry on May 20, 2021. After relocating to Coffee County, Stevens was required to comply with Georgia’s registry requirements and probation conditions.
In October 2024, Coffee County Sheriff’s Office detectives, working with the Department of Community Supervision, began investigating information that Stevens was contacting a minor. Investigators determined Stevens had failed to disclose a secondary telephone number, violating sex offender registry requirements, and was communicating with a 12-year-old victim. A device examination uncovered computer pornography involving minors and evidence of enticing a child.
Stevens was arrested at his Douglas residence and charged with Failure to Register as a Sex Offender, Computer/Electronic Pornography, and Enticing a Child for Indecent Purposes.
On October 23, 2024, the Pierce County Aggressive Crime Enforcement Unit launched an investigation into allegations of child molestation involving Stevens and two other individuals. That investigation resulted in charges against Stevens for Child Molestation, Aggravated Child Molestation, and Enticing a Child for Indecent Purposes.
Stevens was prosecuted for offenses in both counties this year. For his crimes in Pierce County, he was sentenced to 60 years in state prison. For his felony convictions resulting from the Coffee County investigation, he received an additional 40 years. The sentences are to be served concurrently, resulting in a total of 60 years in state prison.
The Sheriff’s Office understands why community members may question the release of someone accused of serious criminal offenses. Constitutional protections apply to every defendant. Individuals charged with crimes are presumed innocent until convicted by a court of law and are entitled to due process. Pretrial release does not erase charges or prevent prosecutors from seeking accountability.
For convicted sex offenders required to register, the Georgia Sex Offender Registry is a public safety tool. Registered offenders must comply with reporting requirements and disclose changes required by law, including information involving residence, employment, vehicles, telephone numbers, electronic devices, and other information required by law.
When offenders ignore those requirements, law enforcement will act. Registry violations can lead to additional criminal charges and provide investigators an opportunity to identify criminal conduct and intervene.
The Coffee County Sheriff’s Office will continue taking a hard line against anyone who violates sex offender laws or threatens children. Sheriff Cole’s message is clear: there is no safe haven in Coffee County for those who prey on children.
This case demonstrates what can happen when investigators, supervision personnel, partner agencies, prosecutors, and citizens work together.
