Three Indicted on Multiple Child Abuse Charges

By Charlie Bauder, WNEG Radio, Toccoa

In Stephens County, a grand jury has indicted three individuals arrested earlier this month in connection with a multi-county child abuse investigation.

This week, true bills of indictment were issued against 36-year-old Willie Grady Newkirk III of Toccoa, 38-year-old Casey Jonathan Norris of Toccoa, and 31-year-old Jessica Joy Sparks of Toccoa on multiple charges.

Charges in the indictment include aggravated child molestation, child molestation, aggravated sexual battery, cruelty to children in the first degree, and distribution of marijuana.

Stephens County Sheriff Randy Shirley said the three were arrested following an investigation that involved his office, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, and the Mountain Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office.

According to the sheriff, these three individuals allegedly committed child molestation and offered marijuana to a 13-year-old child.

Shirley said the investigation involved an undercover officer posing as a 13-year-old and exchanging e-mails with Newkirk.

The sheriff went on to say Newkirk agreed to meet with the undercover officer posing as a minor and once they met, Shirley says Newkirk was arrested.

Norris and Sparks were then arrested a couple of days later.