Young Harris man charged with child sodomy

YOUNG HARRIS, Ga. – Towns County Sheriff’s Office arrested a 38-year-old Young Harris man on Friday, Jan. 31, on charges of aggravated child molestation, felony sodomy, and felony statutory rape.

Following a criminal investigation, Christopher Ray Bryson was taken into custody and transported to the Towns County Detention Center. According to the arrest report obtained by FYN, the alleged molestation occurred between the months of August and October 2019. The investigation was launched on Oct. 4, following information received by a resource officer at Towns County High School. The alleged molestation was listed as occurring “off-campus.”

Union County Sheriff’s Office previously arrested Bryson on Oct. 28, 2019, on two counts of statutory rape, two counts of aggravated child molestation, and two counts of aggravated sodomy.

Georgia Law defines Aggravated Child Molestation in O.C.G.A. §16-6-4 as: “A person commits the offense of aggravated child molestation when such person commits an offense of child molestation which act physically injures the child or involves an act of sodomy.”

Georgia Law O.C.G.A. §16-6-2 states that a person commits the offense of sodomy when he or she performs or submits to any sexual act involving the sex organs of one person and the mouth or anus of another.

According to research, a person convicted of aggravated child molestation will be punished by life in prison or by a split sentence of at least 25 years in prison followed by probation for life. In addition to incarceration, a defendant convicted of aggravated child molestation will be required to register as a sex offender. Georgia’s General Assembly found that the State has a compelling interest in protecting the public from sexual offenders and in protecting children from predatory sexual activity. Therefore, the State requires sex offenders to register and provide the public notice of the presence of sex offenders.

The case will be forwarded to Enotah Circuit District Attorney’s Office for prosecution. Bryson is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.