He was naked on video chat with girl at least 5 times, cops say. He’s 33. She’s 9.
A 33-year-old man accused of repeatedly video-chatting naked with a 9-year-old girl was arrested after the victim’s mother secretly recorded one of the exchanges, police testified Thursday in Columbus Recorder’s Court.
Adrian Harris was charged with five counts of child molestation and three counts of violating the Computer or Electronic Pornography and Child Exploitation Prevention Act.
Detective Virginia Duncan testified that Columbus police called Feb. 29 to a reported sexual assault learned Harris allegedly had video-chatted multiple times with the girl.
The child was related to a woman Harris knew, Duncan said.
The girl told investigators Harris exposed himself on multiple occasions and also asked her to take her clothes off, Duncan said. This happened at least five times, with three of the incidents occurring while Harris was visiting Texas, the detective said.
During one video call, the girl’s brother walked in on the two chatting in the nude and reported it to his mother, who had her daughter call Harris again, and videotaped the exchange, Duncan said.
On that video, Harris asked the girl whether she was alone, and when she said yes, he exposed himself while getting out of the shower, Duncan said.
The detective said the victim told her Harris also had climbed into her bed and rubbed himself against her from behind. In September and November of 2019, he touched the girl’s genitals, Duncan testified.
Columbus police brought Harris in for questioning March 24. He acknowledged video chatting with the girl’s family, but claimed he did that only when the mother was present, the officer said.
Informed of the mother’s recording, he admitted he was the man in the video, and said he thought he and the girl had chatted alone, Duncan said.
Judge Julius Hunter found probable cause to send Harris’ case to Muscogee Superior Court, ordering the suspect to have no contact with the victim or her family. Harris is being held without bond.