A man police said was caught having sex with a teenager fought arresting officers and tried to take one officer's gun, but ended up behind bars with numerous charges.
Statesboro Police Chief Stan York said officers arrested Ronald Maurice Wilkerson, 29, Bob White Court, after SPD Crime Suppression Unit officers spotted him and a 14-year-old girl Wednesday night around 11:30 p.m. in the Parker Street park, both "partially undressed."
Wilkerson initially told police he was only 18, and denied having sexual intercourse with the juvenile female. But when officers continued to question him, and began taking him into custody, he fought and tried to flee, he said.
"A struggle ensued and Wilkerson attempted to take the duty weapon from one of the officers," York said.
However, he was quickly subdued and taken into custody, he said.
A search of Wilkerson revealed he had in his possession a pair of underwear that belonged to the teen, he said.
CSU officers and Statesboro Police detectives interviewed other witnesses in the park, including a 13-year-old, gathering evidence that led to charging Wilkerson with two counts of child molestation, fornication, statutory rape, and public indecency, York said.
Wilkerson's struggle with officers and giving an incorrect age resulted in charges of felony obstruction of police, attempting to remove a firearm from a law enforcement officer, and giving false statements, he said.
The 14-year-old was also charged with party to the crime of statutory rape, giving false statements, unruly juvenile and fornication, he said.
Wilkerson was taken to the Bulloch County Jail, where he remains without bond, according to jail records.
The teen was taken to Claxton Regional Youth Detention Center.
This is not the first time Wilkerson has been arrested on child molestation charges. According to Bulloch County Courthouse records, Wilkerson faces a plea date July 15 before Bulloch County Superior court Judge John R. Turner regarding incidents occurring between July 21, 2005 and April 10, 2007.
Local attorney Matt Hube is representing Wilkerson in that case, said Bulloch County Clerk Sherri Akins.
Regarding those incidents which occurred at a South Walnut Street location and involved a female under age 16, Wilkerson was charged with three counts of child molestation, two counts of aggravated child molestation, sodomy, aggravated sodomy, statutory rape, sexual battery and enticing a child for indecent purposes.
Wilkerson was released on a $25,000 bond Jan. 28, Akins said.
Statesboro Police Chief Stan York said officers arrested Ronald Maurice Wilkerson, 29, Bob White Court, after SPD Crime Suppression Unit officers spotted him and a 14-year-old girl Wednesday night around 11:30 p.m. in the Parker Street park, both "partially undressed."
Wilkerson initially told police he was only 18, and denied having sexual intercourse with the juvenile female. But when officers continued to question him, and began taking him into custody, he fought and tried to flee, he said.
"A struggle ensued and Wilkerson attempted to take the duty weapon from one of the officers," York said.
However, he was quickly subdued and taken into custody, he said.
A search of Wilkerson revealed he had in his possession a pair of underwear that belonged to the teen, he said.
CSU officers and Statesboro Police detectives interviewed other witnesses in the park, including a 13-year-old, gathering evidence that led to charging Wilkerson with two counts of child molestation, fornication, statutory rape, and public indecency, York said.
Wilkerson's struggle with officers and giving an incorrect age resulted in charges of felony obstruction of police, attempting to remove a firearm from a law enforcement officer, and giving false statements, he said.
The 14-year-old was also charged with party to the crime of statutory rape, giving false statements, unruly juvenile and fornication, he said.
Wilkerson was taken to the Bulloch County Jail, where he remains without bond, according to jail records.
The teen was taken to Claxton Regional Youth Detention Center.
This is not the first time Wilkerson has been arrested on child molestation charges. According to Bulloch County Courthouse records, Wilkerson faces a plea date July 15 before Bulloch County Superior court Judge John R. Turner regarding incidents occurring between July 21, 2005 and April 10, 2007.
Local attorney Matt Hube is representing Wilkerson in that case, said Bulloch County Clerk Sherri Akins.
Regarding those incidents which occurred at a South Walnut Street location and involved a female under age 16, Wilkerson was charged with three counts of child molestation, two counts of aggravated child molestation, sodomy, aggravated sodomy, statutory rape, sexual battery and enticing a child for indecent purposes.
Wilkerson was released on a $25,000 bond Jan. 28, Akins said.