Molena, GA. – The GBI arrested Molena Police Chief James Roberts today.  The arrest comes after a month and a half long investigation into allegations that Roberts solicited several young men for sex and used his position as police chief to gain the trust of the young men.  Roberts, who is also the Mayor of Concord, provided one of these young men with his personal code and key to obtain county gas to fill up the young man’s personally owned vehicle.

On August 22, 2014, Assistant District Attorney Benjamin Coker, of the Griffin Judicial Circuit, requested the GBI conduct an investigation into allegations against Roberts.  The request came after the grandparents of one of the young men, who was allegedly victimized by Roberts, reported the information to the Pike County Sheriff’s Office.  The investigation also revealed Roberts sent obscene pictures to a juvenile on his city phone.

The GBI presented its findings to Griffin Judicial Circuit District Attorney Scott Ballard who determined Roberts would be charged with two counts of Solicitation of Sodomy and one count of Theft by Conversion.

Subsequent to Roberts’ arrest, GBI agents executed search warrants at Roberts’ residence, the Molena Police Department, Molena City Hall, and Concord City Hall.

Contact Information:

Sherry Lang 404-270-8330