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Name:
Abbott, Matthew Clements
Date of Booking:
08/21/2025
Reason(s) For Booking:
PUBLIC INDECENCY
PUBLIC INDECENCY
Distributing Obscene Materials (Misdemeanor)
Violation of Oath by Public Officer (Felony)
Article:
The information below reflects all details available at the time of publication and was obtained directly from the official court database accessible to the public. Court records are subject to change at any time at the court’s discretion. The Georgia Gazette is not responsible for errors, omissions, or discrepancies within the docket. No information provided should be construed as legal advice or opinion. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Case History:
8/25/25
DEFENSE ATTORNEY MARK B. JACKSON ENTERS APPEARANCE
What this means: Attorney Mark B. Jackson formally notified the Magistrate Court of Cobb County that he would be representing Matthew Clements Abbott in Case No. 26CR03066. Filing a Notice of Appearance means Jackson is now the attorney of record, and all future court notices and correspondence related to the case must be directed to him. The notice was filed on August 25, 2025, and later transferred to the Cobb Superior Court clerk’s office.
8/25/25
DEFENSE FILES MOTION FOR BOND
What this means: Attorney Mark B. Jackson filed a Motion for Bond on behalf of Matthew Clements Abbott, asking the Magistrate Court of Cobb County to schedule a bond hearing. The motion noted that Abbott had been held in the Cobb County Jail since his August 21, 2025 arrest with no bond set. The defense argued that Abbott, then 37 years old, is a Cobb County resident, is married with three children, has family ties in the Atlanta and Cobb County area, and no longer works for Cobb County. The motion argued Abbott does not pose a significant flight risk or threat to any person or witness, and that three of the four charges are misdemeanors. The motion was signed August 25, 2025, and filed with the court.
8/25/25
DEFENSE FILES MOTION FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING
What this means: On the same date, attorney Mark B. Jackson also filed a separate Motion for Preliminary Hearing, asking the Magistrate Court of Cobb County to schedule both a preliminary hearing and a bond hearing for Matthew Clements Abbott. A preliminary hearing is a court proceeding where a judge determines whether there is enough evidence to hold a defendant for trial. The motion noted Abbott had been jailed since his August 21, 2025 arrest. This motion was also served on the Cobb County District Attorney’s office.
8/28/25
RULE NISI ISSUED — BOND AND PRELIMINARY HEARING SCHEDULED FOR 9/17/25
What this means: The Magistrate Court of Cobb County issued a Rule Nisi — a court order directing the state to appear and show cause why the defendant’s requests should not be granted — scheduling a hearing for Matthew Clements Abbott on September 17, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. in Courtroom M203, 2nd Floor, 32 Waddell Street, Marietta, Georgia. This hearing was set in response to the defense’s motions for bond and preliminary hearing filed on August 25, 2025. The Rule Nisi was issued on August 28, 2025.
9/5/25
CONSENT BOND ORDER ISSUED — BOND SET AT $25,000 WITH CONDITIONS
What this means: The Magistrate Court of Cobb County issued a Consent Bond Order setting bond for Matthew Clements Abbott at $25,000, with an ankle monitor required before release. A consent bond order means both the prosecution and defense agreed to the bond terms. The order included the following conditions:
Abbott must not violate any laws, local, state, or federal. He must not consume alcohol. He must not possess or ingest marijuana, cannabinoids, or THC. He must not use any drugs unless lawfully prescribed. He must submit to random alcohol and drug testing at his own expense. He must not possess firearms. He must not change his address without notifying the court seven days in advance. He must have no contact of any kind with any victim or witness in the case. He must not initiate or continue uninitiated contact with any child under the age of 16, and must have no contact with any child under 16 and must not linger in any location where children under 16 are present. He must be supervised by the Cobb County Pretrial Release Agency and report within 24 hours of release. He must be fitted with an ankle monitor through A 2nd Chance Monitoring at his own expense, with a curfew requiring him to reside at a specified address and leave only for medical appointments, attorney meetings, and court appearances. He must not possess a smartphone or have internet access while on bond, except for virtual medical appointments. The order was signed on September 5, 2025, by the presiding judge, with ADA Lindsay Raynor and defense attorney Mark B. Jackson both signing.
9/5/25
BAIL BOND EXECUTED — $27,700 TOTAL
What this means: A property bail bond was executed for Matthew Clements Abbott in Cobb County Superior Court, with a total bond amount of $27,700 — consisting of a $25,000 base bond, a $2,500 addition, and a $100 addition — covering the charges of Distributing Obscene Materials, Violation of Oath by Public Officer, and two counts of Public Indecency under Case No. 26CR03066, Warrant No. 25-W-7054. The bond was secured using real property. The bail bond was filed in the Cobb Superior Court Clerk’s office.
9/6/25
OFF-CONSENT BOND SIGNED
What this means: Officer Matthew Clements Abbott signed his bond agreement on September 5, 2025, one day before this court filing. This means he formally accepted the $25,000 bond terms and conditions set by Judge Brendan F. Murphy, allowing him to be released from custody while his case proceeds.
9/8/25
MATTHEW CLEMENTS ABBOTT SIGNS WAIVER OF EXTRADITION
What this means: Matthew Clements Abbott signed a Waiver of Extradition on September 8, 2025, in connection with Case No. 26CR03066, Warrant No. 25-W-7054. By signing this document, Abbott voluntarily gave up his right to contest being returned to Georgia from another state if he were to leave. This is a standard condition often required as part of a bond release, ensuring that if Abbott left Georgia, he could be brought back without a formal extradition process. The waiver was acknowledged by a pretrial officer on the same date.
9/11/25
BOND ADMINISTRATIVELY TRANSFERRED TO SUPERIOR COURT
What this means: Officer Matthew Clements Abbott’s bond was transferred from the lower court to Cobb County Superior Court. This administrative action typically occurs when a felony case moves from magistrate court to superior court, where felony cases like Abbott’s violation of oath by public officer charge are handled. His bond conditions remain in effect during this transfer.
9/11/26
GRAND JURY RETURNS INDICTMENT — 24 COUNTS FILED AGAINST MATTHEW CLEMENTS ABBOTT
What this means: A Cobb County grand jury returned a true bill of indictment against Matthew Clements Abbott during the July/August Term 2026, filed in Cobb Superior Court on September 11, 2026, under Case No. 26CR03066. Judge Tyler Browning presided. District Attorney Sonya F. Allen signed the indictment. GBI Special Agent Ethan Brown is listed as a witness. The indictment charges Matthew Clements Abbott with 24 counts as follows:
Count 1 — Sexual Exploitation of Children (O.C.G.A. 16-12-100(b)): Abbott is accused of knowingly possessing a photograph depicting a female child performing oral sex on an adult male, between November 1, 2023, and August 21, 2025.
Count 2 — Sexual Exploitation of Children (O.C.G.A. 16-12-100(b)): Abbott is accused of knowingly possessing a photograph of a female child taken from behind while she was on her knees exposing her vagina, between November 1, 2023, and August 21, 2025.
Count 3 — Sexual Exploitation of Children (O.C.G.A. 16-12-100(b)): Abbott is accused of knowingly possessing a photograph of a female child in an innertube exposing her vagina, between November 1, 2023, and August 21, 2025.
Count 4 — Sexual Exploitation of Children (O.C.G.A. 16-12-100(b)): Abbott is accused of knowingly possessing a 12-photograph collage of minor children engaged in oral, anal, and vaginal intercourse, between November 1, 2023, and August 21, 2025.
Count 5 — Sexual Exploitation of Children (O.C.G.A. 16-12-100(b)): Abbott is accused of knowingly possessing a photograph of a female child holding an adult male’s penis while her vagina was exposed, between November 1, 2023, and August 21, 2025.
Count 6 — Sexual Exploitation of Children (O.C.G.A. 16-12-100(b)): Abbott is accused of knowingly possessing a photograph of an adult female touching a female child while the child’s vagina was exposed, between November 1, 2023, and August 21, 2025.
Count 7 — Sexual Exploitation of Children (O.C.G.A. 16-12-100(b)): Abbott is accused of knowingly possessing a photograph of a female child inserting her fingers inside her vagina, between November 1, 2023, and August 21, 2025.
Count 8 — Sexual Exploitation of Children (O.C.G.A. 16-12-100(b)): Abbott is accused of knowingly possessing a photograph of a female child laying face down with her skirt pulled up exposing her vagina, between November 1, 2023, and August 21, 2025.
Count 9 — Sexual Exploitation of Children (O.C.G.A. 16-12-100(b)): Abbott is accused of knowingly possessing a photograph of a female child with an adult male’s penis in her face, between November 1, 2023, and August 21, 2025.
Count 10 — Sexual Exploitation of Children (O.C.G.A. 16-12-100(b)): Abbott is accused of knowingly possessing a photograph of a female child performing oral sex on an adult male while being penetrated by another adult male, between November 1, 2023, and August 21, 2025.
Count 11 — Sexual Exploitation of Children (O.C.G.A. 16-12-100(b)): Abbott is accused of knowingly possessing a photograph of a female child surrounded by nude adults exposing her vagina, between November 1, 2023, and August 21, 2025.
Count 12 — Sexual Exploitation of Children (O.C.G.A. 16-12-100(b)): Abbott is accused of knowingly possessing a photograph of a female child with her legs on an adult male’s shoulders during sexual intercourse, between November 1, 2023, and August 21, 2025.
Count 13 — Sexual Exploitation of Children (O.C.G.A. 16-12-100(b)): Abbott is accused of knowingly possessing a photograph of a female child in a pink shirt exposing her breasts and vagina, between November 1, 2023, and August 21, 2025.
Count 14 — Sexual Exploitation of Children (O.C.G.A. 16-12-100(b)): Abbott is accused of knowingly possessing a video of a female child masturbating with a hairbrush, between November 1, 2023, and August 21, 2025.
Count 15 — Distributing Obscene Material (O.C.G.A. 16-12-80): Abbott is accused of unlawfully disseminating obscene material to another individual via electronic messages describing acts of incest involving Abbott’s wife and children, on or about December 2, 2024.
Count 16 — Distributing Obscene Material (O.C.G.A. 16-12-80): Abbott is accused of unlawfully disseminating obscene material to another individual via electronic messages describing acts of incest involving Abbott’s mother and sisters, on or about February 4, 2025.
Count 17 — Distributing Obscene Material (O.C.G.A. 16-12-80): Abbott is accused of unlawfully disseminating obscene material to another individual via electronic messages describing explicit sexual acts with children, between February 5 and February 10, 2025.
Count 18 — Distributing Obscene Material (O.C.G.A. 16-12-80): Abbott is accused of unlawfully disseminating obscene material to another individual via electronic messages describing acts of bestiality, on or about February 7, 2025.
Count 19 — Distributing Obscene Material (O.C.G.A. 16-12-80): Abbott is accused of unlawfully disseminating obscene material to another individual via electronic messages describing acts of necrophilia, on or about February 7, 2025.
Count 20 — Violation of Oath by Public Officer (O.C.G.A. 16-10-1): Abbott, as a Cobb County Police Department officer, is accused of willfully and intentionally violating the terms of his oath of office — in which he swore to obey, adhere to, uphold, and enforce the laws of the United States and the State of Georgia — by committing the misdemeanor offense of distributing obscene material as described in Counts 15 through 19, between February 5 and February 10, 2025.
Count 21 — Violation of Oath by Public Officer (O.C.G.A. 16-10-1): Abbott, as a Cobb County Police Department officer, is accused of willfully and intentionally violating the terms of his oath of office by committing the felony offense of sexual exploitation of children — knowingly possessing photos and a video of children engaged in sexually explicit conduct as described in Counts 1 through 14 — between November 1, 2023, and August 21, 2025.
Count 22 — Public Indecency (O.C.G.A. 16-6-8): Abbott is accused of performing a lewd exposure of his sexual organs at Kincaid Elementary School, a public place, on or about June 2, 2025.
Count 23 — Public Indecency (O.C.G.A. 16-6-8): Abbott is accused of performing a lewd exposure of his sexual organs at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on New Macland Road, a public place, on or about June 9, 2025.
Count 24 — Distracted Driving (O.C.G.A. 40-6-241): Abbott is accused of engaging in distracted driving on the roadways of Cobb County by writing and sending text messages while operating a motor vehicle on or about February 7, 2025.