A Columbus teen was indicted Tuesday on charges of child molestation and aggravated sodomy, authorities said.
Gregory Kyle Heatherly, 17, is accused of inappropriately touching a younger boy over a number of years, his indictment states. The earliest date prosecutors allege the conduct could have occurred was April 3, 2004, though the exact dates aren’t known.
Authorities learned about the accusations on Feb. 21, when a family member of the 13-year-old boy contacted police, said Wesley Lambertus, assistant district attorney.
Heatherly was a student at Jordan High School at the time of his arrest, Lambertus said. His current status is unknown.
Heatherly, who wasn’t yet considered an adult during some of the dates listed in the indictment, is being prosecuted under Senate Bill 440, Lambertus said. Someone under the age of 17 can be prosecuted as an adult for certain offenses, which include aggravated child molestation and aggravated sodomy.
Heatherly initially faced a charge of child molestation. Grand jurors indicted him on the additional aggravated counts, Lambertus said.
Because of the new charges, authorities will arrest Heatherly again. He must appear before a Superior Court judge in order to get bonds set on those charges, Lambertus said.
