Former Cherokee County Deputy Sheriff Stephen Michael Bunte was sentenced on April 16 to 15 years in federal prison for enticement of a minor and receipt of child sexual abuse material, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia.
The case underscores efforts by law enforcement agencies to hold individuals accountable regardless of their position, especially when crimes involve vulnerable victims. The prosecution was part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative focused on protecting children from online exploitation and abuse.
"Law enforcement officers take an oath to serve and protect, and Bunte ignored that oath by sexually exploiting children and preying on vulnerable victims overseas," said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. "Predatory conduct will not be tolerated, and those who commit these crimes will be prosecuted and excised from the community." Hertzberg serves as United States Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia, which acts as the principal federal law enforcement agency in its district according to its official website.
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents began investigating international child sex trafficking networks in August 2023. They identified a trafficker in the Philippines offering access to explicit livestreams involving children under age twelve. In March 2024, agents discovered communication between this trafficker and Bunte—then living in Calhoun, Georgia—who exchanged over 14,000 messages with the trafficker between May 2023 and March 2024. During this period, Bunte received at least thirty-five images depicting three minors aged six, ten, and fourteen.
Steven N. Schrank, Special Agent in Charge of HSI in Georgia and Alabama said: "Stephen Bunte failed to honor his oath and betrayed that trust by exploiting children instead of protecting them. His actions are reprehensible... HSI is committed to ensuring that anyone who violates their oath... is held fully accountable—regardless of their position or title." Lt. Col. Ken Carson from Calhoun Police Department added: "It gives detectives with the Calhoun Police Department great satisfaction to assist with this case and have a successful outcome for the child victims involved.”
Bunte pleaded guilty on November 4, 2025; he must also serve fifteen years supervised release after his prison term ends and register as a sex offender.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia covers a region serving approximately seven-and-a-half million residents across north Georgia mountains through Atlanta suburbs into bordering states according to its official website. The office enforces federal criminal laws—including cases with national or international scope—and represents United States interests in civil matters while collaborating closely with other law enforcement partners according to its official website.
