Hephzibah man booked in Columbia County on Child Exploitation charges

Michael McClain, 38, of Hephzibah was booked June 3 in Columbia County on a Child Exploitation charge after Grovetown police said he sent sexually explicit messages and nude images to someone he believed was a juvenile.

Police said the investigation began in May through a social media app, and that McClain was told multiple times he was talking to a juvenile but kept messaging and discussed meeting in person. He was arrested around 5 a.m. June 3 in Grovetown, according to Grovetown Police Chief Jamey Kitchens.

After his arrest, McClain admitted taking part in the chats and sending the photos, Kitchens said. Kitchens also said McClain made admissions about child molestation and sexual assault in other jurisdictions, and those agencies were notified to investigate.