Georgia Juvenile Crime Detective Arrested on Child Molestation Charges

PAULDING COUNTY, GEORGIA – A juvenile crime detective was arrested on Monday, November 25, and faces child molestation charges.

48-year-old juvenile crime detective Steve Sorrells was placed under arrest by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and has been charged with two counts of child molestation and one count of being in violation of his oath of office.

A report was confirmed by Sgt. Ashley Henson that Mr Sorrells was arrested and charged with the molestation of two juvenile teen girls.

Sgt. Henson and the Sheriff’s office also confirmed there’s no evidence that any of Sorrells’ victims were involved in law enforcement cases, but that there is an ongoing investigation that could lead to additional charges being filed.

Sheriff Gary Gulledge was disgusted by the charges against Mr. Sorrells and said, “The incident has tarnished the badge that we all wear so proudly. We will do everything in our power to assist the GBI during this investigation.”

“This type of behavior will not be condoned in our office nor in any law enforcement agency in the country. Our focus is on the victims in this case; we want to make sure they get the justice and compassion they deserve.”

Steve Sorrells had been employed by the Paulding Sheriff’s Office for more than five years and was assigned to work as a detective in the Juvenile Investigations Division.

GBI agents were asked by the Paulding County Sheriff’s Office to launch an investigation into Mr Sorrells on November 14.

A GBI news release stated that the investigation started, “after an allegation of inappropriate sexual contact with a minor was made to the sheriff’s office.”

“Sorrells was immediately placed on administrative leave at the onset of the investigation and was terminated from employment upon his arrest,” the GBI release continued.

The GBI release noted that “Sorrells was immediately placed on administrative leave at the onset of the investigation and was terminated from employment upon his arrest.”

Steve Sorrells was “removed from all official duties as a detective after being placed on paid administrative leave,” according to Sgt. Henson.

Sgt. Henson said she went to the Sheriff’s Office on November 25 to talk with agents about the incident.

“As a result of that meeting, he was subsequently arrested. As soon as he was arrested, he was terminated as an employee of the Paulding County Sheriff’s Office,” Sgt. Henson stated.

That day on November 25, Mr. Sorrells was taken into custody by authorities and booked into the Paulding County jail without incident, according to the GBI release.

Sgt. Henson added that, “Since he was an employee of the Paulding County Sheriff’s Office prior to his arrest, Mr Sorrells was transferred to a neighboring agency where he is being held with no bond.”

Sgt. Henson continued by saying Sorrells was an employee of the Paulding County Sheriff’s Office since July of 2014, and that he, “did not have any history of disciplinary action in his personnel file prior to this incident.”

The GBI Press Release and initial report is according to MDJOnline.com.

Note: MDJOnline.com reported Steve Sorrells was a ‘former’ detective, however, Mr Sorrells was placed on administrative leave when the investigation began and was only terminated from employment at the time of his arrest. Therefore, Sorrells was still an active Paulding County Sheriff’s Office employee while all of this was ongoing.

Anyone who has information regarding this investigation is urged to contact the Georgia Bureau of Investigation at phone number: (706) 624-1424.