A Cobb County pastor said he is rebuilding his life and ministry after charges that he sexually assaulted a 10-year-old child at the homeless shelter he operates were dropped by the District Attorney’s Office.
Danny Lee Wells, founder of the nonprofit ministry 7 Bridges to Recovery, was charged in September 2016 with rape and aggravated child molestation. While Wells was indicted by a Cobb grand jury, his case never went to trial. That’s because the Cobb County District Attorney’s office in September 2018 decided not to prosecute the case due to “insufficient evidence to prove the charges” beyond a reasonable doubt, Superior Court records show.
Wells, who has maintained his innocence, said he is focusing on helping less fortunate men and women who come to his doors for assistance.
“I want people to know that I’m not mad at anybody,” he said, adding his financial and physical health have suffered since his arrest.
Cobb District Attorney Joyette Holmes told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that crimes involving sexual abuse of children, by their nature, “pose challenges for prosecutors.” Those challenges can impact the ability of the DA’s office to successfully prosecute offenders even when probable cause exists to establish a crime took place.
“Our primary duty as prosecutors is to seek justice within the bounds of the law and not just convict,” she said. “Therefore, our office will continue to evaluate each case by considering the evidence available to us and the best interests of the child involved.”
According to the police report written by Cobb police in 2016, a 14-year-old told police that she was raped by Wells in 2012 while she and her mother were staying at The Garden, a homeless shelter for women and children run by 7 Bridges to Recovery. The Garden has a 105-bed shelter for women and children, and offers a program for about 25 men.
The teen’s mother told the AJC recently that she agreed with the district attorney’s decision to not prosecute the case.
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