The Columbia County Sheriff’s Office in Georgia issued warrants for the arrest of Brian Diggs, Sr., 30, an employee with the Federal Bureau of Prisons at the Edgefield County Federal Prison, Thursday, Dec. 17. According to documents provided to The Advertiser by the CCSO, Diggs’ three children were removed from his custody in Nov. of this year after Columbia County school officials reported suspected abuse. Diggs is alleged to have beaten his children, all under the age of 10, with belts and possibly a whip, to the point of causing lacerations and bleeding. He is also accused of locking the children in a basement without food or a working toilet.

Diggs was arrested by the CCSO Friday, Dec. 18, and charged with 3 counts of Cruelty to Children in the 1^st Degree and 3 counts of Cruelty to Children in the 2^nd degree. If convicted, he could face up to 90 years in prison.

Diggs did have sole custody of the children. No information was available on the children’s mother. The children have been in foster care since the investigation into this matter began.