Men charged with child molestation

September 7, 2006

By Patti Dozier The Times Enterprise Thu Sep 07, 2006, 02:22 AM EDT

THOMASVILLE — Two Thomas County men have admitted in as many days to child molestation.

Jason Langston Mercer and Fenley Junior Gibson admitted Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively, to inappropriate touching of young children.

In both cases, the activity was reported to the Thomas County Sheriff’s Office, which requested assistance from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

Mercer, 29, 704 Gordon Ave., is charged with three counts of child molestation and two counts of enticing a child for indecent purposes.

The suspect, a personal trainer, is being held in the Thomas County Jail, where he is awaiting arraignment.

An individual told sheriffs’ office investigators about inappropriate behavior Mercer had with several children, said Lt. Tim Watkins, sheriff’s office chief investigator.

“It was recent, over the weekend,” Watkins said.

Mercer was arrested Tuesday at the Jail-Justice Center.

“He came down voluntarily for questioning,” the officer said. “He admitted touching the victims inappropriately.”

An investigation began 11 days ago into another child-molestation report.

“The victim confided to her mother what had happened,” said Jason Carroll, a sheriff’s office investigator, who specializes in investigating sex crimes, primarily against children.

An investigation began Sunday, Aug. 27, the day the sheriff’s office was contacted.

Carroll and a GBI agent questioned Gibson, 20, 598 Bernice Glen Road, Boston, Wednesday morning. The suspect admitted to allegations of child molestation, Carroll explained.

“It happened on the weekend of Aug. 25-27,” the officer said.

Gibson, a painter, was being held in the Thomas County Jail in lieu of a $50,100 bond Wednesday afternoon.

Carroll said the sheriff’s office criminal investigation division has worked five child-molestation cases in the past 30 days. Arrests were made in each case.