Leesburg, GA (July 29, 2021) – On Monday, July 26, 2021, the GBI arrested Christopher Troy Harnage, age 46, of Leesburg. Harnage is a former Investigator with the Lee County Sheriff’s Office. Harnage is charged with three counts of Violation of Oath of Office, three counts of Solicitation of Sodomy, and three counts of Sodomy and was booked into the Lee County Jail.

On Thursday, July 9, 2020, the GBI was requested by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office to investigate allegations of Investigator Harnage interfering with an ongoing child molestation investigation. Harnage was refusing to provide information to other investigators vital to the investigation. This investigation led to the discovery of evidence of Harnage soliciting and performing sex acts on and off duty in uniform dating back to 2013. Harnage was terminated from Lee County Sheriff’s Office on July 16, 2020.

This investigation is active and ongoing. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the GBI Americus Field Office at 229-931-2439. Tips can also be submitted by calling 1-800-597-TIPS(8477), online at https://gbi.georgia.gov/submit-tips-online, or by downloading the See Something, Send Something mobile app.

Contact

Special Agent in Charge Joe Chesnut