News Nearby: Watkinsville Man Indicted on Child Molestation Charges

An information technology manager with the Georgia Department of Labor who authorities say fondled a girl under 16 faces formal charges.

An Oconee County grand jury has handed down a 21-count indictment against John David Cooper, 44, of Stonebridge Circle that includes four counts of child molestation and 17 counts of sexual exploitation of children. The indictment was filed with the Oconee County Clerk of Superior Court on April 16, Oconee Patch reports.

The indictment alleges Cooper touched the girl's breast, vagina and buttocks and exposed himself to her sometime between May 2007 and May 2010. He is also accused of posessing 17 digital, sexual images of a female under the age of 18.

Following his arrest, Cooper was immediately suspended from his job pending an investigation, a GDOL official said.

Criminal indictments are not evidence of guilt; they are only charges. Defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.