Man Charged With Molesting Children Inside Target

ROSWELL, GA -- Roswell police have arrested a 23-year-old Woodstock man on charges he inappropriately touched three children inside a big box retailer.

Police have charged Jacob Austin Shepherd, 23, with child molestation and misdemeanor sexual battery.

An officer was dispatched around 5:30 p.m. Oct. 12 to Target at 1135 Woodstock Road in response to a suspect "groping two females inside the business," the Roswell police incident report states.

Officers arrived and met with the juvenile victims, their parents and the offender, later identified as Shepherd.

According to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, police said Shepherd inappropriately touched a 16-year-old, a 14-year-old and nine-year-old child.

Roswell police spokesperson Lisa Holland told Patch that Shepherd worked at The Fresh Market, and he would venture over to Target on his breaks.

"The employees of the Target were familiar with him and they were able to help the police locate him," she added.

Holland commended the children for coming forward about the incident.

"Typically kids don’t say anything because they are scared or embarrassed," she added. "So, I’m very proud of them for reporting this to their parents who called the police. We were able to arrest him quickly."

Jail records show the Woodstock man was booked into the Fulton County Jail Oct. 13 and remains at the facility.

Images via Roswell Police Department