A Lowndes County man has been charged with molesting a child, according to Sheriff Eddie Hawkins.
Paul David Reinitz, 50, was arrested Thursday and charged with one count of molesting-touching a child for lustful purposes.
Hawkins said the investigation began in July when a mother and her underage daughter came to the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office. They told investigators Reinitz had been molesting the victim for the last four to five years. The alleged abuse started when the victim was 11 years old.
The victim was taken to Sally Kate Winters Family Services in West Point for a forensic interview, where she told investigators she believed he had been abusing other children, also.
Those children have been located, and the investigation is ongoing, Hawkins said. More charges may be forthcoming.
Hawkins said Reinitz knew the victim’s family, but was not in a position of authority, such as a teacher.
Reinitz has a “lengthy criminal history” spanning four states, Hawkins said, and is also being charged with violation of parole by the Mississippi Department of Corrections.
“One of the most disgusting crimes is the sexual abuse of a child,” Hawkins said. “He was in a position of trust and had access to these children and continued to molest them for several years.”
Anyone with knowledge of this case is asked to call the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office at 662-328-6788 or Golden Triangle Crime Stoppers at 800-530-7151, or use the P3 Tips smartphone app. Tipsters remain anonymous, and may receive a cash award if the information leads to an arrest.
Brian Jones is the local government reporter for Columbus and Lowndes County.
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