Greg McDonald, 51, of Bainbridge, was arrested Wednesday and charged with child molestation and aggravated sexual battery.

According to Bainbridge Public Safety, McDonald is accused of molesting two juveniles in his home on multiple occasions since 2011, the most recent incident occurring in November.

In the report, one of the victims said McDonald sexually abused one of the juveniles 10 to 20 times within the past year.

On Jan. 10, the Division of Family and Children Services contacted BPS Investigator Chris Avery in reference to a child molestation in Bainbridge. DFACS received a complaint report from a counselor at Mosaic Psychological Services, who had seen one of the juveniles for several years.

Later that day, Avery, BPS Investigator Mark Esquivel and DFACS worker Leigh Tiner attempted to call McDonald’s home, but were unable to make contact. Investigators attempted to contact him at Atlas Educational, an after school program McDonald helped found, but were unsuccessful. Esquivel was finally able to reach McDonald via cellphone.

That afternoon, McDonald called Esquivel and said he was at Atlas Educational. Esquivel arrived and informed McDonald of the allegations one of the juveniles had made against him.

According to the report, “Greg then sat down in a chair and clinched his hands around the arm of the chair. He said, ‘I’m going to lose it all’ and ‘I’m going to lose my business.’ Greg never denied the allegations and was only referring to himself and how it would affect him.”

On Jan. 16, Avery reached out to another victim who was allegedly assaulted by McDonald as a juvenile in his home. An interview with the victim revealed more instances where McDonald made sexual advances toward them.

After further psychosexual assessments, it was recommended McDonald be arrested, charged and prosecuted “to protect children from sexual abuse and exploitation,” the BPS report reads.

Officials said more psychological evaluations are scheduled for the two victims.

Atlas Educational Director Irena Justice declined to comment whether or not McDonald was still affiliated with the after school program.

Neither victim was a part of the Atlas after school program.

McDonald is currently in the Decatur County Jail as of Thursday afternoon and is awaiting a bond hearing.

According to South Georgia Judicial Circuit District Attorney Joe Mulholland, a person convicted of child molestation is imprisoned for 5-20 years, followed by probation that mandates the person receive counseling administered by a licensed psychiatrist or psychologist, per Georgia Code 16-6-4.

A person convicted of aggravated sexual battery is either sentenced for life, or sentenced for no less than 25 years followed by probation for life, Mulholland said in reference to Georgia Codes 17-10-6.1 and 17-10-7.

 

ORIGINAL STORY:

Greg McDonald was arrested at 8 a.m. Wednesday morning and charged with child molestation and aggravated sexual battery.

Bainbridge Public Safety Investigator Chris Avery made the arrest. Avery said word of McDonald’s alleged child molestation first came from the Division of Child and Family Services (DCFS).

“We did our investigation stemming from that,” Avery said.

McDonald is the director of the Atlas Educational program, an after school program Avery said.

More than 20 kids are involved in the program.

The victims were not involved in the after school program.

The investigation is currently ongoing. More information will be published as it becomes available.