Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Investigator Wilson Carstaffin - Charged Child Molestation


A veteran Atlanta police officer was indicted Friday on charges that he molested a 12-year-old girl.

Atlanta Police Department officials said Investigator Wilson Carstaffin has been indicted on two counts of child molestation, two counts of sexual battery and one count of enticing a child for indecent purposes.

Officials told WSB-TV Channel 2's Jodie Fleischer that Carstaffin met the girl while he was working an off-duty security job at Crawford Long Middle School. He is accused of taking the girl off school grounds and molesting her in his car.

The indictment was returned by a Fulton County grand jury Friday morning after evidence gathered by APD was turned over to the office of District Attorney Paul Howard.

He has been suspended with pay pending an emergency action hearing early next week.

"It disturbs me and every other police officer in Atlanta when such allegations arise", said Chief Richard J. Pennington. "Children are told to trust police officers. This is an apparent heinous abuse of that trust."

The officer, a 16-year veteran of the department, was assigned to the General Investigations Unit before being assigned to non-enforcement, administrative duties while the investigation took place.

The officer was not on duty, in uniform or in a police vehicle at the time of the incident, according to officials. Police said they believe the victim knew Carstaffin was a police officer.

A news conference is being held Friday afternoon to discuss the case. Please refresh this developing story for updates.

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