Rylee Willis, a 21-year-old probationary deputy with the Gwinnett County Sheriff's Office, was arrested Jan. 8 after a mother found illicit messages between her 16-year-old daughter and an adult on Jan. 5. Willis faces two counts of child molestation and two counts of enticing a child for indecent purposes and was booked with no bond. He is no longer employed by the sheriff's office and the investigation is ongoing.
Gwinnett County Probationary Deputy Arrested After Illicit Messages With 16-Year-Old
Gwinnett County Sheriff's OfficeRylee Willis' mugshot
A probationary deputy with the Gwinnett County Sheriff's Office was arrested and charged after authorities say illicit messages were exchanged with a 16-year-old, court records show.
Rylee Willis, 21, was taken into custody on Thursday, Jan. 8, following an investigation prompted when a mother discovered inappropriate messages between her 16-year-old daughter and an adult male on Monday, Jan. 5. Investigators later identified the man as Willis, according to a Gwinnett County Police Department special victim unit news release and court records obtained by PEOPLE.
Court documents list two counts of child molestation and two counts of enticing a child for indecent purposes against Willis. He was booked into the Gwinnett County Jail with no bond, and authorities said the investigation remains ongoing.
At the time of his arrest Willis was serving a probationary period with the Gwinnett County Sheriff's Office. The agency confirmed he is no longer employed by the sheriff's office.
'Under GCSO policy, entry-level sworn and non-sworn employees must complete two years of probationary status before being granted permanent status. The Gwinnett County Sheriff's Office holds its employees to the highest standards of professionalism and accountability,' the office said in a statement.
PEOPLE and local reporters reached out to both the Gwinnett County Sheriff's Office and the Gwinnett County Police Department for comment as the inquiry continues. No additional information about the alleged messages has been released publicly while investigators pursue the case.
Resources
If you suspect child abuse, contact the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-422-4453 or visit www.childhelp.org. The Crisis Text Line can be reached by texting STRENGTH to 741741 to connect with a trained crisis counselor. All calls and texts are confidential and available 24/7.
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