HSI Investigation Leads to Former Georgia Teacher Pleading Guilty to Production and Distribution of Child Sexual Abuse Material

MACON, Ga. — Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Atlanta investigated a former high school teacher who pleaded guilty in federal court July 30 to the production and distribution of child sexual abuse material.

“Teachers are supposed to be a safety net for our children, not target and exploit them,” said HSI Atlanta acting Special Agent in Charge Jennifer Huerta, who oversees Georgia and Alabama. “This plea represents the great work done by HSI and our partners to identify, investigate and prosecute these predators. HSI remains vigilant in protecting our children and holding those accountable those who exploit them.”

Michael Dendy, 33, of Milledgeville, pleaded guilty to one count of production of child pornography and one count of distribution of child pornography.

In December 2022, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office began investigating the Discord page “WACO Confessions” after receiving multiple complaints that images posted of local high school students had been posted without their knowledge or approval. Through their investigation, officials determined that Dendy created “WACO Confessions.” Dendy also admitted to creating “WACO Confessions” and confirmed that he used fake Instagram accounts to communicate with the students. A search warrant executed at Dendy’s residence resulted in the seizure of multiple electronic devices that contained child sexual abuse material.

Dendy was a teacher at Washington County High School in Sandersville from August 2020 until his arrest in January 2023. From 2018 to 2020, he was a teacher at Griffin High School in Griffin. From 2017 to 2018, he taught at St. Charles High School in Waldorf, Maryland. From 2014 to 2016, he was a teacher at Starkville High School in Starkville, Mississippi. Parents and guardians of children who may have encountered Dendy and have concerns related to this investigation can contact the HSI Tip Line at 877-4-HSI-TIP.

Dendy faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison up to a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison for production of child pornography and a mandatory minimum of five years in prison up to a maximum sentence of twenty years in prison for distribution of child pornography. Dendy also faces a maximum term of supervised release of life, and he will have to register as a child sex offender upon release from federal prison.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. attorney’s offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims.

The case is being investigated by the Washington County Sheriff’s Office and HSI with significant assistance from the Leesburg Police Department in Virginia, the Charles County Sheriff’s Office in Maryland and the Middle Judicial Circuit of Georgia District Attorney’s Office.

Huerta, U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary and Washington County Sheriff Joel Cochran made the announcement June 30.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Peach.