Paulding Detective Charged With Child Molestation: Sheriff

PAULDING COUNTY, GA — A former Paulding County detective is facing child molestation charges, according to a release from the Paulding County Sheriff's Office.

Steve Edwin Sorrells, 48, who was with the Juvenile Investigations Division, is accused of two felony counts of child molestation and one felony count of violation of an oath of office.

According to the release, on Nov. 14, the sheriff's office was contacted about Sorrells' alleged sexual contact with a minor. The sheriff's office called the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and asked them to head up an investigation on the allegations. They placed Sorrells on paid administrative leave.

On Nov. 25, Sorrells went to the sheriff's office to speak with GBI agents about the incident, the release says, leading to his arrest. He was then fired from the sheriff's office.

"I am disgusted that one of our own has been arrested and charged with child molestation," Sheriff Gary Gulledge said, according to the release.

"Our focus is on the victims in this case; we want to make sure they get the justice and compassion they deserve," Gulledge said, adding that the incident "has tarnished the badge that we all wear so proudly."

Sorrells had been with the sheriff's office since July 2014.

Since he was formerly an employee of the sheriff's office, Sorrells was transferred to a neighboring agency where he's being held without bond, the release says.

Anybody with information on this case or others that may involve Sorrells is asked to contact the GBI's Region 1 Field Office as 706-624-1424.