61-year-old man accused of molesting three girls, Columbus police say

A 61-year-old Columbus man is accused of molesting three girls after a four-month police investigation by the Special Victims Unit.

Dennis Roaden was taken into custody on an outstanding warrant Thursday and held without bond in the Muscogee County Jail. He is charged with three counts of child molestation.

Roaden used a wheelchair during a 2 p.m. Friday hearing in Recorder’s Court. Public defender Owen Lynch told Judge Julius Hunter that Roaden will hire his own attorney and requested a delay on the hearing. A new date was set for 2 p.m. Tuesday.

Relatives from both sides of the case were in court for the hearing.

An investigation was launched on Dec. 11, 2017, after a Columbus police officer was called to the 1800 block of Warm Springs Road on a report of child molestation. The alleged incidents occurred sometime between Sept. 1 and Dec. 11.

This story was originally published April 26, 2018 at 7:35 PM with the headline "61-year-old man accused of molesting three girls, Columbus police say."