Royston police officer charged with child molestation in Madison Co.

A city of Royston police officer was arrested Tuesday and charged with the alleged molestation of a Madison County child.

Agents with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Athens Regional Office and officers with the Madison County Sheriff’s Office arrested Royston police officer Timothy Irwin Lewis, 32, of Hull, at about 3 a.m. Tuesday, charging him with one count of child molestation. Lewis was arrested after an investigation into allegations of inappropriate sexual contact with a minor.

This investigation followed a report made by the victim’s family member to Royston Police Chief Donnie Boleman of inappropriate sexual contact by officer Lewis. Chief Boleman contacted the Madison County Sheriff’s Office and the GBI Athens Regional Field Office requesting assistance in this investigation, since the incidents allegedly occurred in Madison County.

Lewis was taken into custody at the Royston Police Department without incident and was transported to the Madison County Jail where he is currently being held. Lewis was not on-duty at the time of the arrest nor at the time of the alleged incident.

Investigators are not yet releasing the age of the female victim, whether there was just one or multiple incidents of molestation, whether there was just one or multiple victims, or where the alleged crime(s) occurred in Madison County.

Sheriff Kip Thomas said that additional charges could be filed as the investigation continues.