A Caledonia man was arrested Friday on allegations of sexual conduct with a child younger than 12 years old to whom he had custodial access.
Charles Raymond Hughes, 62, is charged with touching a child for lustful purposes and sexual battery, all while being in a position of trust or authority over the victim, a press release from Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office said.
A family member of the victim first reported to detectives earlier this month that Hughes had inappropriately touched the child, the press release said. The victim, who has since moved to another state with her mother, disclosed to the family member that Hughes had engaged in sexual conduct with her.
Detectives spoke to the victim during a forensic interview, where she described multiple incidents of Hughes’ misconduct with her, including sexual penetration.
During a subsequent interview with Hughes, he admitted to having sexual contact with the victim while she was living with him in Caledonia. Detectives obtained a search warrant for Hughes’ residence, where they seized several electronic devices, which will be examined for evidence linking Hughes to this case or other crimes.
“This crime is truly horrifying, Sheriff Eddie Hawkins said in the press release. “The victim is very young, and the perpetrator held a position of trust; he was someone the child should have been able to admire. We are committed to doing everything possible to hold him accountable and ensure he never has the opportunity to harm another child again.”
Hughes is being held in Lowndes County Adult Detention Center awaiting his initial court appearance. No bond has been set.
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