A Hartwell man and former Elbert County Primary School paraprofessional was arrested March 11 by the Hart County Sheriff’s Office and charged with three counts of child molestation, according to a March 12 press release from the Elbert County School District and a March 14 press release from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI).
Bobby Ray Cross, 66, of Hartwell was arrested by the Hart County Sheriff’s Office Friday, March 11 and the GBI charged him with three counts of child molestation.
Cross, who was hired as a paraprofessional Oct. 23, 2018, according to Elbert County Schools Superintendent Jon Jarvis, was immediately placed on administrative leave Jan. 6, 2022 after the school district was made aware Jan. 5 by a parent of a report by their child of an isolated incident of inappropriate touching that occurred during the after school program.
According to the GBI release, the acts occurred between the end of Nov. 2021 and the end of Dec. 2021.
The school district began an investigation into the matter upon being notified and on January 11, while the investigation was ongoing, Cross voluntarily resigned from his position, according to Jarvis.
“Effective immediately please accept this as my resignation,” Cross wrote in a letter dated Jan. 11 and addressed to Adam Kurtz, Elbert County Schools’ Director of Special Education. “I am grateful for the opportunity given me by Elberton County and have genuinely enjoyed my time at the Primary School.”
In the first few days of the investigation, Jarvis said the Elbert County School District’s Police Department, Elbert County Sheriff’s Department, local district attorney’s office, the Department of Family and Children Services and the Georgia Professional Standards Commission Ethics Division were notified of the incident.
The GBI was then called to direct the criminal investigation with support from the Harmony House and the Elbert County School District
According to the GBI release, three victims aged six and under have been identified through the course of the investigation.
“The safety of students is the district’s number one priority,” Jarvis said in the press release. “To further that priority, the district is taking steps to ensure all staff work diligently to provide students with a safe and healthy learning environment which supports learning and growth.”
The press release also encouraged parents to share any safety concerns with school administrators.
The investigation is active and ongoing and the GBI has requested that anyone with information contact the GBI Regional Investigative Office in Athens at (706) 552-2309.
Anonymous tips can also be submitted by calling 1-800-597-TIPS (8477), online at gbi.georgia.gov/submit-tips-online or by downloading the See Something, Send Something Mobile App.