Winterville msn indicted for allgedly sexually assaulting juvenile girl in 2017

James Aaron Vance

By Joe Johnson

Winterville man has been indicted for allegedly sexually assaulting a juvenile girl six years ago.

James Aaron Vance, 23, of Robert Hardeman Road was charged with four counts of sexual battery of a child under 16, and two counts of child molestation, according to the indictment filed Tuesday in Clarke County Superior Court.

The court charging document indicates the alleged offenses occurred sometime between June 1 and Aug. 31, 2017.

“It was reported to ACCPD that during a counseling session, a female disclosed that she was molested by a family member several years ago, sometime prior to October of 2016,” he said. “The victim was 7-10 years old at the time of the incident.”

According to Barnett, “It was reported that on at least two occasions, Vance used his hands to touch the victim’s vagina."

Under Georgia law, therapists and professional counselors must report sex crimes against children if they believe their clients might re-victimized; The statute of limitations for Vance's alleged offenses is seven years from when they reportedly occurred.

“It was reported to ACCPD that during a counseling session, a female disclosed that she was molested by a family member several years ago, sometime prior to October of 2016,” he said. “The victim was 7-10 years old at the time of the incident.”

According to Barnett, “It was reported that on at least two occasions, Vance used his hands to touch the victim’s vagina."

Under Georgia law, therapists and professional counselors must report sex crimes against children if they believe their clients might re-offend; The statute of limitations for Vance's alleged offenses is seven years from when they occurred.

occurred.

Lt. Shaun Barnett, at the time the public information officer for the Athens-Clarke Police Department, said that on Nov. 10 detectives had only recently learned about the alleged crimes. was reported to ACCPD that on at least two occasions, Vance disex crimes against children if they believe their clients might victimized again.

The statute of limitations for prosecuting Vance for his alleged crimes is seven years from when they occurred.

Vance was arrested by ACCPD on Nov. 9 and he was released from the county jail five days later, upon posting bonds totaling $3, 500.

He is scheduled to be arraigned on Aug. 14 before Western Judicial Circuit Chief Judge Eric Norris, who is presiding over the case.

Anyone who has been sexually assaulted or knows someone who has can contact The Cottage Sexual Assault Center and Children's Advocacy Center. The agency provides a range of free services to child and adult victims of sexual and physical abuse, including medical care, legal advocacy, referrals, counseling and support groups. The Cottage also maintains a 24-hour crisis and information hotline at (877) 363-1912. For more information visit www.northgeorgiacottage.org.