DODGE COUNTY, Ga. — The former Jail Administrator of Dodge County was arrested and charged with three felony counts of sexual battery.
In a news release, the GBI says 59-year-old Dennis McCranie of Eastman was booked into the Dodge County Law Enforcement Center on Wednesday.
The GBI says on Sunday, March 24, McCranie "intentionally had inappropriate physical contact with three children under the age of 16 years old."
Four days later, they say the Dodge County Sheriff's Office asked them to investigate.
On Tuesday, Sheriff Brian Robinson declined comment and referred questions to the GBI.
Before McCranie worked in Dodge County, he worked for more than 30 years with the Georgia Department of Correction.
In 2013, he was promoted to Deputy Warden of Security at Wilcox State Prison.
His career began in 1987 as a Correctional Officer at Dodge State Prison, serving on the TACT squad for six years. He was then promoted to Sergeant at Wilcox State Prison in 1993. In 1996, he was promoted to Lieutenant at Telfair State Prison. He was promoted to Captain at Wilcox State Prison in 2007 and was promoted to Unit Manager in 2012 at Wilcox State Prison.
McCranie also has an associate's degree in theology and counseling, and the YouTube page for Lakeside Church in Eastman lists him as a pastor. The church's YouTube page has videos up of McCranie preaching sermons as recent as one month ago.
The church provided a statement to 13WMAZ, saying McCranie served as a volunteer associate and "due to the seriousness of these allegations he has been released of all duties and been asked to refrain from the church campus until further notice."
The full statement reads:
"As many of you may have heard, Dennis McCranie was taken into custody. He was arrested on charges of sexual battery. The charges that have been made against him involve alleged misconduct towards children and/or underage minors. Dennis served as volunteer associate here at Lakeside and due to the seriousness of these allegations he has been released of all duties and been asked to refrain from the church campus until further notice. While the leadership of Lakeside regards these allegations very seriously, we have not, nor will we, prejudge those involved in this matter. We have taken all appropriate steps to protect the vulnerable and traumatized to the greatest extent possible in a responsible, professional, and Biblical manner. We pray for all involved and ask everyone else to kindly do the same.
Sincerely,
Lakeside Church
Pastor Tyler Kirkley & Board"
Anyone with information about this investigation can contact the GBI Regional Investigative Office in Eastman at 478-374-6988. Anonymous tips can also be submitted by calling 1-800-597-TIPS (8477), online at https://gbi.georgia.gov/submit-tips-online, or by downloading the See Something, Send Something mobile app.