Cobb County officer arrested: charged with distributing obscene material and public indecency
Cobb County police officer accused of lewd act at school
New details have been released about the arrest of a Cobb County police officer in a multi-state investigation which led to charges of distributing obscene material.
COBB COUNTY, Ga. - New details have been released about the arrest of a Cobb County police officer in a multi-state investigation which led to charges of distributing obscene material.
Officer Matthew Abbott arrested
What we know:
Matthew Abbott, 36, of Marietta was arrested on Thursday. He was charged with distribution of obscene material, two counts of public indecency, and violation of oath by a public officer.
Abbott, who has worked as a Cobb County police officer since Jan 2016, was immediately relieved of duty.
Metro Atlanta officers facing criminal charges
Two metro Atlanta officers have been relieved of duty after they were arrested in two separate investigations - one of which stretches all the way to Utah.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation Child Exploitation and Computer Crimes Unit received a tip from the Utah Attorney General’s Office about Abbot, which led to a search warrant and eventually his arrest.
He was booked into the Cobb County Jail and remained there Friday afternoon without bond.
The Cobb County Police Department and the Utah Internet Crimes Against Children’s Task Force assisted in this case.
Accusations while on-duty
Dig deeper:
According to an arrest warrant, Abbott committed several crimes while on duty. The document states that on Feb. 5, Abbott was at the East Cobb Government Center, which is where Precinct 4 and the tag office are located, when he sent an electronic message to someone "describing explicit sexual acts with children between the ages of 8 and 12 years old."
The document indicates that on June 2, around 1:30 p.m., Abbott was at Kincaid Elementary School and committed public indecency by performing a lewd act in the parking lot. The school was closed for summer break.
One week later, according to the warrant, Abbott was in the parking lot of a church on New MacLand Road where he performed an act of lewd exposure while on duty.
Matthew Abbott (Cobb County Sheriff's Office)
Investigators say this was all uncovered after they were notified by the Utah Attorney General's Office that Abbott was identified during a separate investigation, Cobb County police say they immediately contacted the GBI who launched an investigation. Abbott's home was searched, and he was later arrested.
How is this Utah-related?
What we don't know:
The details surrounding the crime have not been released.
FOX 5 has inquiries out to the Utah Attorney General’s Office and the Utah Internet Crimes Against Children’s Task Force.
No word on whether he has obtained legal representation or when his next court date is.
Cobb County police chief on officer arrest
What they're saying:
Cobb County Police Interim Chief Dan Ferrell said his department is fully committed to being transparent and will fully cooperate in the investigation.
"The people of Cobb County expect and deserve officers who uphold the law and conduct themselves with integrity, both on and off duty. The allegations in this case are extremely disturbing and do not reflect the values of our department. While the legal process moves forward, the officer has been relieved of duty, and we have initiated our own internal investigation. We will follow the facts, uphold due process, and take the actions necessary to maintain the trust of our community," the chief wrote.
Abbott's charges explained
Dig deeper:
The charge of violation of oath of office elevates any misconduct charge because the person held special authority and trust in the community. It suggests his alleged behavior was tied to, or at least judged against, his role as a law enforcement officer.
In Georgia, distribution of obscene material charges typically refers to sending, sharing, or publishing obscene or sexually explicit material that meets the legal definition of obscenity. Think of it as not just pornography, but material lacking serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value and appealing to prurient interests."
Public indecency charges are filed when someone exposes themselves, performs a lewd act, or engages in sexual activity in public. Two counts suggest at least two separate incidents, possibly documented by video, witness reports, or surveillance.
The Source: The Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the Cobb County Police Department provide the information for this article. This article has been updated since it was originally published to add new details surrounding the accusations.