U.S. Department of Justice

Federal Bureau of Investigation

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact
Deborah McCarley 602-650-3201

September 27, 2006

FBI WORKS WITH LOCAL OFFICIALS TO CHARGE CHILD SEXUAL PREDATOR

Special Agent in Charge John E. Lewis, Phoenix Field Office of the FBI, announced today, September 27, 2006, the arrest of Gary Alan Woolston, age 55, concerning charges of Sexual Exploitation of a Minor.

Since August 2006, FBI agents have been working with the Graham County Attorney’s Office and the Thatcher Police Department concerning allegations against Woolston involving possession of Child Pornography and Sexual Exploitation of Minors. On September 20, 2006, Woolston was taken into custody at his residence in Thatcher, Arizona. Woolston was charged locally on14 counts of Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, a class two felony and a Dangerous Crime against Children in the First Degree. Woolston remains in custody at the Graham County Sheriff’s Office. A federal investigation concerning other allegations against Woolston is ongoing.

Woolston has resided in Thatcher, Arizona for 2 years and previously resided in Douglas, Arizona, San Fernando, California and Animas, New Mexico. It is possible Woolston has victimized young children unknown to investigators. Woolston used the Internet to share and obtain pornographic photographs of children. Screen names used by Woolston from several Internet service providers include, garywoolston, gwoolstonis, and woolstong. The FBI requests that if anyone has additional information concerning potential victims; please contact the FBI Sierra Vista, Resident Agency, (520)459-2232.