A year after investigators first began looking into child molestation allegations involving a 13-year-old Portal girl, DNA tests and other evidence led to the arrest of a 23-year-old man.
    Bulloch County Sheriff’s Investigator Bill Black said deputies took Calvin Lee Deloach, 23, Claudia Street, Portal, into custody Wednesday on charges of  child molestation, statutory rape, and enticing a child for indecent purposes.
    The incident, which took place “almost a year ago,” occurred on Claudia Street just outside the Portal city limits, he said.
    He did not say whether the contact was consensual. Since the girl is underage, even consensual sexual activity is against the law, he said.
    The case began a year ago when investigators received a report that Deloach molested the juvenile girl. Amid questioning and investigation procedures, sheriff’s agents collected evidence, some of which was submitted to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Crime Lab, Black said.
    While some tests were inconclusive, other tests returned results that proved evidence collected included Deloach’s DNA, he said.
    Deloach was taken to the Bulloch County Jail, where he remained without bond Friday, according to jail records. He is awaiting an upcoming bond hearing, Black said.
    Holli Deal Bragg may be reached at (912) 489-9414.