Actor Convicted Of Child Molestation Granted New Trial

CANTON, GA — A Cherokee County Superior Court judge has ordered a new trial for an actor who was convicted by a jury earlier this year on a child molestation charge. Judge David Cannon Jr. has granted a new trial for Corey Seth Sligh, who had a recurring role on "The Young and the Restless." Sligh was convicted on June 28 on one count of child molestation and acquitted on the other charge outlined in an indictment.

A sentencing hearing was held Sept. 11 when Sligh's attorney, Brian Steel, used the time to ask the court to consider a new trial for his defendant. Steel argued that even when the evidence is strong enough to ensure a conviction, a judge is compelled to order a new trial if the verdict is "contrary to the principles of justice and equality" or if the verdict "is decidedly and strongly against the weight of the evidence," according to court records.

In his Sept. 12 order granting the new trial, Cannon indicates the jury's decision to convict Sligh was "against the weight of the evidence" and that the defendant was entitled to a new proceeding. At a Sept. 24 hearing, Sligh was granted a $22,200 bond with the stipulations that he remains at a home in Canton, wear a GPS ankle monitor and not have any contact with the alleged victim, her parents or her siblings. He's also barred from having any contact with anyone under the age of 18 unless that person is a family member, and is required to only have supervised contact with any minor family member.

Court records also show the Cherokee County District Attorney's Office on Sept. 17 filed an appeal to the Georgia Court of Appeals of Cannon's decision to grant Sligh a new trial.

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The Cherokee Sheriff's Office previously told Patch that the victim was younger than 10 years old at the time of the incident and was "known" to Sligh. The agency also said the child's parents reported the incident to officials, and he was arrested in October 2016.

A little more than a month later, Sligh was booked into the Walton County, Florida, jail on one count of lewd and lascivious molestation on a juvenile younger than 12 years old. According to an arrest report provided to Patch by Walton County sheriff's officials, Sligh was arrested on an active felony warrant in DeFuniak Springs, the small county seat. The report notes the incident took place in Walton County, Florida.

A Cherokee grand jury indicted Sligh in June 2017 on two counts of child molestation for the incident that occurred in March 2016. The Florida case against Sligh continues through the court system, records show.

The International Business Times reported Sligh appeared as a bartender and waiter on the hit soap opera. His IMDB page also notes he appeared in the TV series "All About Lizzie." Sligh reportedly told TMZ that he was innocent of the charges and that the "truth will prevail."

Image via Cherokee Sheriff's Office