Authorities have arrested two alleged child molesters in two Atlanta counties following separate, lengthy investigations.
Ricardo Luis Sullivan, 27, was arrested in Cobb County by a U.S. Marshals regional task force, with help from Cobb and Fayette authorities, on Wednesday. He is charged with child molestation and aggravated sexual battery.
Joseph Mark Sanders, 54, was arrested in Douglas County by Paulding and Douglas county authorities on Thursday for aggravated child molestation.
Both men are wanted in several jurisdictions on multiple charges.
Sullivan tried to run when officers approached him at his place of employment in Austell Wednesday, according to a joint statement by the U.S. Marshals and the Cobb and Fayette sheriff’s departments. The agencies had been investigating him since late August following a single, violent incident of child molestation. While being arrested, Sullivan allegedly tried to reach for a loaded pistol in his pocket, officials said.
Sullivan faces a host of charges in addition to the molestation charges, including felony obstruction and possession of a firearm during a felony. He was also wanted for burglary in Gwinnett County. He is being held at the Cobb County jail.
Sanders will likely face multiple counts of child molestation for acts that occurred in Douglas County, according to Douglas County authorities. He is being held in the Douglas County jail without bond. Once Sanders is sentenced in Douglas, he will be transferred to Paulding County where he will face more child molestation charges.
Police would not offer more information in either case at this time.
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