The former chairman of the Cobb County Republican Party waived Friday’s probable cause hearing in his child molestation case.

Jospeh Russell Dendy, 71, was arrested May 20 at his west Cobb home and has remained since then in the county jail, where he is being held without bond.

Dendy is accused of molesting several boys and a girl during a span of 55 years, according to the District Attorney's office. In addition to being charged in Georgia, he has been charged with similar crimes in South Carolina. Dendy allegedly molested a young boy as far back as the late 1950s.

For four years, Dendy served as the chairman of Cobb’s GOP, the largest red county in Georgia, and was the face of his party. He also previously served as the campaign manager for former State Rep. Roger Hines, who described Dendy’s character as “impeccable” during a recent bond hearing.

A Vietnam veteran, Dendy and his wife of 44 years run a travel business and have taught Sunday School for many years, Billie Dendy testified.

The case will be presented to the Grand Jury, an assistant Cobb DA said Thursday.

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In this file photo from October 2024, Atlanta Braves outfielder Jorge Soler and teammates react after losing to the San Diego Padres 5-4 in San Diego. The Braves and Soler, who now plays for the Los Angeles Angels, face a lawsuit by a fan injured at a 2021 World Series game at Truist Park in Atlanta. (Jason Getz/AJC)

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