A Sylvania man is in cuffs after the GBI put the brakes on what they're calling a sick and twisted case of child molestation. James Ryan Burkes, 26, finds himself on the wrong side of the law, staring down allegations of child molestation, sexual battery against a child under 16, and battery, the GBI announced last week.
The state's investigative muscle flexed on February 12 when Screven County officers passed the baton to the GBI, putting them on the trail of allegations against Burkes with claims of having had inappropriate sexual contact with a minor, a situation nobody, neither the victim nor the community ever should be made to confront. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation said the investigation remains alive and kicking, as they dig deeper into the accusations.
With Burkes now parked at the Screven County Jail, authorities are keeping their ears to the ground for more info. They're urging anyone in-the-know to hit up the Screven County Sheriff’s Office or the GBI regional office in Statesboro—tips can go through at 912-564-2013 and 912-871-1121, respectively. For those who prefer to stay in the shadows, anonymous tip-offs are an option too, via the hotline at 1-800-597-TIPS or online, and the GBI's also got an app for that, 'See Something, Send Something,' which can be downloaded for the sleuths on the move.
