A Marietta man already behind bars for allegedly molesting a 6-year-old girl now faces charges involving a second victim, police said Wednesday.
And Josue Alejandro Gomez could have other potential victims because of his interactions on social media, Marietta Officer David Baldwin told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
“We feel that Mr. Gomez may be preying on all ages of young girls, and there may be other victims,” Baldwin said.
Gomez, 27, of Marietta, was arrested May 30 and charged with child molestation and sexual battery, both felonies, according to Cobb County jail records.
The arrest warrant states that Gomez inappropriately touched the 6-year-old on multiple occasions. Gomez told the girl not to tell anyone about his actions, according to police.
After his arrest, a second victim reported similar incidents involving Gomez, Baldwin said. A 13-year-old Marietta Middle School student told police her relationship with Gomez started when he sent her a Facebook friend request, which she accepted.
Gomez and the teen allegedly exchanged several text messages, with Gomez encouraging the girl to cut school, a second arrest warrant states.
“The accused did take a 13-year-old child from her home and without the consent of her parents and transport her to his apartment with the intentions of later running away to Mexico,” the warrant states.
A second arrest was issued for Gomez on July 2 on charges of enticing a child, sexual battery, child molestation and interference with custody, records show.
Neither girl is related to Gomez, nor are the two victims related to each other, Baldwin said. Investigators are concerned about other victims Gomez may have contacted through social media.
“It’s possible if he has solicited other girls that they could live in other jurisdictions,” Baldwin said. “He could be using an alternate name, but it’s the face that we really want to get out there.”
Anyone with information about Gomez is asked to contact Detective Mark Erion at 770-794-5363.
Gomez was being held Thursday without bond at the Cobb County jail.
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