An Augusta truck driver accused of keeping a folder of explicit photos of his two young victims on a laptop faces a Richmond County jury this week.
David Wesley Campbell, 40, was named in a 25-count June indictment for rape, aggravated sexual battery, aggravated child molestation, 10 counts of child molestation and 11 counts of sexual exploitation of children, all involving two girls who were approximately 11 and 13 years old.
Prosecutors said a tip from a mandated reporter prompted them to get a search warrant for Campbell’s electronic devices on which they found internet searches for terms such as child rape. But in a particular laptop folder, they found series of photos of the two girls in various stages of undress, with his hands on them and close-up photos of their genitals.
Jurors watched video Tuesday of Inv. Nancy Clark, internet crimes against children investigator for the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, interview Campbell after finding the photos. Campbell would blame a son who has autism and others for the photos as Clark showed them to him one by one.
As she pulled out photos showing “a hand that looks just like yours” and a ring he wore touching the victims’ naked bodies, Campbell continued to deny involvement. “I don’t believe you,” Clark said.
Some jurors cried or stared in disbelief.
June was the third time Campbell had been indicted. He was originally charged in October 2021 with nine counts of child molestation and 10 counts of sexual exploitation of children.
Campbell was released on bond in February 2021 with the condition he have no contact with the victims. But two years later, a school counselor told police she learned he had been seen around them, and his bond was revoked.
Campbell was indicted again in February and was in court early last month for the purpose of entering a guilty plea to all counts in exchange for life with parole plus five years.
At the June hearing before Chief Judge Daniel J. Craig, however, Campbell would withdraw his plea. So, he heads to trial this week represented Caitlin Angelette with the Augusta Circuit Public Defender’s Office. Chief Columbia County Superior Court Judge James G. Blanchard is presiding over this week’s trial.
Assistant District Attorney Randi Guillory has served as lead prosecutor for most of 2023 and in March won a motion to disqualify Campbell’s former attorney Sam Emas from representing him.
