Man charged with raping juvenile relative in Athens

Ricky Darnell Grisson

By Joe Johnson

A Greene County man has been arrested for allegedly raping a young relative of his in Athens.

Ricky Darnell Grisson, 64, was arrested Sunday on warrants charging him with rape, incest, and child molestation.

The Athens-Clarke County Police Department is withholding reports and other information pertaining to this case, including the victim’s age, to protect the juvenile involved.

“The victim and the suspect share an incestual relationship,” Lt. Shaun Barnett said. “In this case, releasing the age of the victim would essentially provide her identity. “

Under state law, a victim must be under 16 years old for someone to be charged with child molestation.

According to Barnett, Grisson's arrest resulted from an investigation that began on April 21, when a case worker with the Georgia Division of Family and Children Services filed a report with ACCPD about an incident that allegedly occurred in Athens the previous month.

Although Grisson was booked into the county jail with an address in Union Point, court records indicate that he has an arrest record in Athens that dates to 1995.

He has also served multiple state prison terms for local convictions on theft, alcohol, traffic violations, and other nonviolent offenses, according to the state Department of Corrections.

As of Tuesday, Grisson was being detained at the county jail without bail being set.