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Written by: E. George
Published December 18, 2024 @ 2:40 PM ET
Warning: The following story contains information regarding alleged sexual violence against children.
JACKSON COUNTY, Ga. – A cyber tip regarding child pornography at a Liberty Estates residence in Braselton led to the arrest of a 37-year-old man for child molestation. During the investigation, authorities discovered photographs of Dusty Lamar Graham‘s juvenile daughters, and Graham confessed to inappropriately touching at least one of them while she slept.
Reports revealed that he touched his underage daughters’ breasts and vaginal areas for sexual arousal and child pornography production, including photographs. Officials also found a video of a minor engaged in masturbation.
On March 17, 2022, Braselton Police officers and agents from the GBI and Secret Service conducted a search warrant at Graham’s New Liberty Way home. All rooms were photographed, and all electronic equipment was confiscated.
A United States Secret Service agent performed a Polygraph test on Graham at the Braselton Police Department, which the suspect failed. Graham admitted to agents that there were ‘events’ that had taken place from October through December of 2021. Additionally, Graham informed authorities of an additional phone containing child pornography at the home, and it was collected and processed with all other evidence.
During an interview with the victims, authorities discovered one of Graham’s daughters was unaware that her father had been inappropriately touching her because it was done while she slept.
While further investigating, authorities noted questionable photos on Graham’s phone that appeared to resemble the clothing and bed covers from the photos taken inside his children’s bedroom during the search warrant. Agents showed the children’s mother the photographs, which she confirmed were of her three daughters.
Graham was indicted on 3 counts of child molestation and 4 counts of sexual exploitation of children.
Authorities investigated Choe’s HapKiDo, a martial arts school on Spout Springs Road, because the suspect had been an assistant instructor there for several years; however, no incidents were reported.
In August 2024, Graham accepted a plea deal and was sentenced to 30 years, with the first 18 to be served in prison, followed by probation. He was ordered to have no contact of any kind with his daughters until they reach 18 years of age, at which point, the victims could choose to contact him.
He was subject to “sex offender special conditions,” such as adhering to a curfew upon his release and reporting to a supervision office.
Graham began serving his sentence in the state prison system on August 22, 2024. He is currently incarcerated at Wheeler Correctional Facility in Alamo, GA with a maximum possible release date of April 10, 2042.
Officer’s Narrative:
[Please note: The following is a direct transcription from the official initial incident report. The Georgia Gazette does not fix any spelling or grammatical errors that may exist. Any changes or redactions made by our staff are placed inside brackets. Some errors may exist. All subjects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The topics discussed may be sensitive to some readers. Discretion is advised.]
On March 14, 2022, I was forwarded Braselton case 2022-00028595. This case is under investigation of distribution and possession of child pornography O.C.G.A. 16-12- 100.
I received Cybertip 107944009 from NCMEC. The IP Address on the tip returned to a resident in Liberty Estates neighborhood. A search warrant for the Gmail account associated with the tip has been completed, signed, and submitted via LE portal. A Search warrant for the residence has been completed and signed by Jackson County Superior Court judge.
On March 17, 2022, Braselton Police along with GBI and Secret Service performed a search warrant on the residence of [1400 BLOCK] New Liberty Way. Upon arrival, Subject Dusty Lamar Graham was detained and was the only occupant of the residence at that time. After the residence was cleared, Sgt. Cox photographed every room in the residence before it was searched. Officer Simmons, Officer Galloway, Lt. Stewart, and SA Jeff Rohrer, searched the residence for all electronic equipment. Major Steffman accompanied the subject in the front living room area while the search was conducted. GBI Special Agent Liz Bingham arrived at the residence and assisted me in interviewing the subject. (See audio from my body cam for interview at the residence).
During the interview at the residence, the suspect agreed to a Polygraph test to ensure us that no inappropriate conduct has taken place between the suspect and his kids. The suspect was given the opportunity to drive himself to the Braselton Police department. At the Braselton Police Department, the subject met United States Secret Service Agent Jeff Rohrer. SA Rohrer conducted the Polygraph in an interview room, (not recorded per Secret Service policy) at the Braselton Police Department in the Criminal Investigation Division (See SA Jeff Rohrer report for details).
Once the Polygraph was completed, Special Agent Bigham and I were notified by SA Rohrer that suspect Dusty Lamar Graham failed the Polygraph questionnaire. SA Rohrer informed us that Mr. Graham has admitted to some events that have taken place during the October through December months of 2021. SA Bingham continued to interview with Mr. Graham at the Braselton Police Department (During this interview, the Polygraph machine was not being utilized on Mr. Graham).
During the interview with Mr. Graham, he stated that there is another phone at his residence that has child pornography on the device. Mr. Graham stated that he thought the phones were located somewhere near his nightstand. I exited the interview room while SA Bingham was talking and requested Sgt. Cox and Officer Simmons to return to the home and look in the area of the nightstand for additional phones. Sgt. Cox received permission from Mrs. [REDACTED], suspects wife, to re enter the residence to look for the phones (see body cam footage from Officer Simmons for contact and consent from Michell Graham).
On March 17, 2022, Dusty Lamar Graham was arrested for Child Molestation against his daughter, [VICTIM #1], and was transported and booked at the Jackson County Detention Center.
On March 17, 2022, two more search warrants were completed for the phones that were later collected at the residence and dropped off with Deputy Brett Roach with the Hall County Sherrif Department for forensics to be completed.
On March 17, 2022, I notified Georgia Department of Human Resources Division of Family and Children Services of the events that have been found out during the interview. Also, Forensic Interviews have been scheduled at The Tree House Inc. in Winder, Georgia for all the kids of the residence starting Monday March 21, 2022, at 10:00am.
On March 21, 2022, A forensic interview was conducted at The Tree House Inc in Winder, Georgia with Victim [VICTIM #1]. It was determined that [VICTIM #1] was unaware of the inappropriate touching that her father admitted too. (The interview that took place with Dusty Graham on the previous Thursday, he admitted to touching [VICTIM #1] while she was asleep.) For details about the Tree House interview, see the Interview Synopsis included with the case file.
Forensic Interviews with the other three children have been scheduled for Wednesday March 23 at 2:00 pm.
On March 21, 2022, I received the report from Secret Service Agent Jeff Rohrer and it has been added to the case file.
On March 22, 2022, I responded to Choe’s Hapkido on Spout Springs Road because Dusty Graham has been an assistant instructor there for a few years. I spoke with [REDACTED]. Mr. [REDACTED] informed me that there have not been any reported incidents involving Dusty Graham at his karate studio. Minimum information was given to Mr. [REDACTED] because the nature of the case.
On May 10, 2022, I responded to the GBI Headquarters to review the phones after they GBI entered them through the Grid-fy systems. While reviewing the material, GBI special Agent Liz Bingham and I were able to find questionable photos that resembled some of the clothing and bed covers that resembled the items in the search warrant photos. After printing and filtering the photos, a meeting was set with [REDACTED] at her residence later that evening.
On May 10, 2022, Special Agent Liz Bingham and I responded to [REDACTED]’s residence to show the photos that were found during the forensic dump. The photos shown to [REDACTED] were confirmed photos of her three daughters. The photos have been added to the case file.
[End of Narrative]