A former DeKalb County police officer accused of molesting a girl will spend five years in jail, prosecutors said.
Manuel Williams pleaded guilty today to child molestation charges that accused him of inappropriately touching a girl in September 2012 while she was at his home.
Williams was arrested in October and resigned from the DeKalb County Police Department, where he'd spent 18 years, authorities said.
He was indicted last month on three counts of molestation, with prosecutors accusing him of kissing the girl on her neck and touching her inappropriately.
“[Williams] took an oath to protect and serve the people of DeKalb County. Instead, he molested a vulnerable young child,” DeKalb County District Attorney Robert James said in a statement emailed to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “It’s always disheartening to see sworn officers violate the public’s trust.”
An arrest warrant obtained by The AJC said that the victim reported the alleged incident in a letter to her mother approximately a year later.
The warrant also said Williams confessed.
Williams, through his attorney Gerald Griggs, vehemently denied the accusations and police assertions that he made a confession. He also questioned the girl’s story, noting the time lapse in reporting it.
By phone Tuesday, Griggs wouldn’t acknowledge Williams’ guilt, saying his client wanted to stay out of court.
“He wanted to avoid having to put his family through a painful trial,” Griggs told The AJC. “So he accepted responsibility.”
Williams was released from jail on $10,000 bond after his October arrest. He must turn himself in on Friday, Griggs said.
He will serve five years in state prison followed by five years of probation, prosecutors said.
Williams’ police certification was suspended by the Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council, and he must register as a sex offender, authorities said.
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