By Joe Johnson
A Gwinnett County police officer has been arrested iin child sex-crime charges following an investigation that was initiated by his patrol supervisor.
the North Precinct supervisor in July began investigating some inconsistencies in the patrol activities of Officer Patrick Benjamin Ventura During the course of the investigation, the Special Victims Unit became involved because the allegations involved a teenage girl under the age of 16.
Ventura, 28, has been arrested and charged with two counts of child molestation, one count of sexual battery against a child under 16, and one count of viol of oath of office.
He is currently incarcerated at the Gwinnett County Jail with no bond.
Ventura was hired by GCPD in October 2020 and graduated from the Academy in the spring of 2021. Ventura has been served with a Letter of Intent to Terminate.
If true, and it more than likely is, he should get the MAXIMUM sentence, being he was a Policeman.
A lot of these cases are consensual but it doesn't matter. The adult has the responsibility to say 'no'. We must protect the youth of both genders. I'm afraid that if these charges stick, he's headed for some tough time. Tough time Mr. Ventura deserves.