Convicted Child Molester Remains At Large

SANDY SPRINGS, GA -- The former corrections officer who fled his trial before his conviction on statutory rape and child molestation charges could be in Glynn County. That's according to that southeast Georgia county police department's Facebook page, which said the U.S. Marshals Southeast Regional Fugitive Task Force is looking for Charles Barry Pinckney.

A Fulton County jury on Oct. 30 convicted Pinckney on charges of statutory rape, child molestation and sexual battery and received a 45-year prison sentence, the Fulton County District Attorney's Office said. The Glynn County Police Department said in a Nov. 21 post that Pinckney has immediate family in the coastal community and "there is credible information (that) he is in the area."

Prosecutors say Pinckney encountered the victim outside an apartment complex in Cobb County the night of Jan. 19, 2016. The girl said she was waiting on a friend when she was approached by Pinckney, who was employed as a DeKalb County corrections officer at the time.

The District Attorney's office said Pinckney "lured the victim into his car by offering her a warm place to sit." After accepting his invitation, Pinckney drove the girl back to his apartment in the 700 block of Hammond Drive in Sandy Springs. After they arrived at the residence, Pinckney fed the victim and told her to take a shower.

Soon after, Pinckney forced himself onto the girl, who told police she said "no" and tried to fight him off. However, Pinckney overpowered the victim, continued his attack and later drove the teen back to the Cobb County apartment complex.

The teen told her mother what happened and she was taken to the hospital for treatment. Sandy Springs police investigators arrested Pinckney on Feb. 4, 2016, and the defendant maintained the encounter was consensual.

After disappearing late last week, a judge granted a bench warrant for Pinckney's arrest and revocation of his bond. His whereabouts are unknown at this time.

Anyone with information about Pinckney's whereabouts is asked to call 770-508-2500 or Investigator N. Solomon at 404-520-4534.

Photo: Charles Pinckney. Credit: Fulton County Sheriff's Department