Grovetown police have arrested an illegal immigrant for repeatedly molesting a 9-year-old girl in a home they share.
Jorge Melara, 49, from Honduras, was jailed for child molestation while officers investigate other possible victims and pornographic images found on his phone, Grovetown Department of Public Safety Sgt. Matt Williamson said.
Melara has been deported nine times and returned again a year and two months ago, police said. He was living with the family in a trailer on the 200 block of 5th Avenue in Grovetown.
Police say the suspect is the uncle to the victim’s mother’s fiancé. The mother found out Tuesday night that Melara had been touching her daughter whenever she was gone, police said. She found out about the molestation when her daughter came crying into her room Tuesday night and said her “Uncle Jorge” had touched her boobs and butt, police said.
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The suspect is accused of touching the girl and kissing her, which he admitted to police, Sgt. Williamson said. The suspect defended his actions, telling investigators through a police interpreter that the people of Honduras are very “touchy and friendly.”
“He said he had the best intentions when he did it,” Williamson said.
At one point, Melara tried to kiss the girl on her lips, but she moved her head and he kissed her on cheek. He also grabbed her wrists when she tried to get away, the sergeant said.
When the suspect’s brother found out about the allegations, the brother beat up the suspect but suffered a heart problem in the process. When the family called for Gold Cross, they also called the police.
Meanwhile, police have information on a possible second victim, although the new case may have taken place elsewhere, with some evidence of molestation outside of the country.
Grovetown police provided a mugshot of Melara, where he is wearing a cowboy hat. At the county jail, authorities made him take it off.
He remained in jail Wednesday night under no bond.
Greg Rickabaugh is the Jail Report contributor for The Augusta Press. Reach him at greg.rickabaugh@theaugustapress.com
