MACON, Ga – Charles Woodall, the former GBI agent charged with multiple counts of child molestation and violation of oath of public office, was found guilty on all 12 counts Thursday.
He was convicted of five counts of enticing a child for indecent purposes, six counts of child molestation and one violation of oath of office.
Special Agent JT Ricketson with the GBI said he and case agents at the time initially launched the investigation and followed the allegations from one of the victim’s mothers.
Woodall was fired in 2015 after several GBI agents conducted various interviews with victims, according to Ricketson.
At the start of Thursday’s court proceedings, Woodall’s defense attorney Charles Cox began presenting his case with Woodall taking the stand and testifying in his own defense.
Woodall told jurors that during his time as a youth group leader at Macon’s Northway Church, he aimed to create what he referred to as a ‘relational ministry.’ one that made him approachable and relatable to the boys in the youth group.
Woodall testified that he and the boys would often have conversations about sexual purity which lead to conversations about masturbation and helping the boys ‘avoid temptation’. He added that he and the youth would discuss topics regarding home and school issues that the boys may have not been comfortable discussing with their parents at the time.
Woodall became a GBI agent in 2011, and resigned his post after being arrested on the molestation charges in 2015.
The alleged incidents with church youth date from 2005 to 2014.
In previous testimony, two other men who are said to have known Woodall as teenagers through their church affiliation in Knoxville, TN testified about their interactions with him.
One of the men said he was 14 years old when Woodall showed him pornography during a sleepover.
Woodall’s defense attorney also called on four additional character witnesses who testified that they’ve known Woodall for several years through church and they vouched that they have never known of Woodall to have any inappropriate interactions with children and teens in the past. Each of the witnesses told jurors that they have always known Woodall to be a truthful person and he had no reason to lie.
The defense finished calling its list of witnesses just before 12 p.m. and presiding Judge George Nunn called for a recess, with closing arguments scheduled to take place after 1 p.m.
A jury made up up ten women and four men will ultimately decide Woodall’s fate.
The jury began deliberation just after 3 p.m.
Woodall will be sentenced at a later date.
Source: http://wgxa.tv