Teen Charged as Adult in Molestation Case

Friday August 10, 2012 – 
Daniel Lee Eller

GAINESVILLE – A Hall County teenager is being charged as an adult in a child molestation case that occurred last month.

According to Hall County Sheriff’s Sgt. Stephen Wilbanks, deputies responded to a residence in the Sardis area early the morning of July 30.

Investigators said the 15 year old suspect was intoxicated and entered a house through an unlocked window and was caught in the act of molesting a five year old girl. The girl’s mother went into the room to check on the girl and caught the suspect in the act, according to Wilbanks.

Investigators said the victim’s father detained the teen until deputies arrived. Wilbanks said Eller was arrested and taken to Northeast Georgia Medical Center, where he was treated for minor injuries.

At an August 6th court hearing, juvenile court charges were dropped and the suspect was charged as an adult with aggravated child molestation and burglary, according to Wilbanks.

He said the juvenile offender is being identified in accordance with the open records act, which indicates that cases involving juvenile offenders over the age of 13, for certain offenses that are in the jurisdiction of the superior court, are public record. 

15 year-old Daniel Lee Eller was booked into the Hall County Jail and then boarded back out to Gainesville RYDC, where he remained held without bond. His next scheduled court appearance is September 6th in the Magistrate Court of Hall County, according to Wilbanks.