WALTON COUNTY, Ga. — The division director for the Georgia Police Academy has been accused of child molestation and fired from his job.
Walton County jail records show that Samuel Ray Ham was arrested Sunday on child molestation and aggravated sexual battery charges.
Channel 2 investigator reporter Ashli Lincoln learned Monday that Ham had worked as the Georgia Police Academy division director. The academy holds advanced and specialized training for certified law enforcement officers in Georgia.
According to the arrest warrants, Ham is accused of touching a girl who was under the age of 16 in an inappropriate and sexual manner. Documents indicated the abuse had gone on for around two years.
The Georgia Police Safety Training Center said in a news release Monday that it has terminated Ham’s employment.
A neighbor of Ham’s, who asked to not be identified, said he was shocked by the allegations.
“Ever since we’ve known them, we’ve been on friendly terms and one of the best neighbors I’d say we ever had,” they said.
The Walton County Sheriff’s Office told Lincoln that the Georgia Bureau of Investigation is handling the case.
A GBI spokesperson said the bureau is investigating, but specifics are not available at this time.
Lincoln reached out to the Georgia Public Safety Training Center, which runs the Georgia Police Academy, for a statement on Monday morning. She received the following statement after 12 p.m.
“The Georgia Public Safety Training Center (GPSTC) has been made aware of an arrest of employee Samuel Ray Ham by the Walton County Sheriff’s Office. While the investigation remains ongoing, GPSTC has terminated employment with Ham for violation of policy 4.0007 Standards of Employee Conduct and notified the Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council.”
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