Former youth minister, substitute teacher arrested on child molestation charges

ALBANY — A former Albany youth minister has been arrested on child molestation charges and is awaiting transfer to Cobb County, according to officials with the Lee County Sheriff’s Office.

Sgt. Tommy Goodwin of the Lee sheriff’s department confirmed that Alexander “Alec” Edwards, a 25-year-old former youth minister and substitute teacher, was arrested last Thursday in Lee County on charges of child molestation.

Edwards was arrested three years ago on obscenity charges, according to law enforcement reports, but was released on bond and has been living in Lee County. Before his 2013 arrest, Edwards served as youth minister at Providence Church on Archwood Drive in Albany and as a substitute teacher in the Lee County School System.

Edwards’ employment with Providence Church was terminated in 2013, according to church officials.

Also, Lee County School System Superintendent Jason Miller confirmed that Edwards had been removed from the active substitute teacher list after his 2013 arrest and would not be able work in the school system anymore.

Goodwin, who specializes in LSO’s Internet Crimes Against Children Division, said, “We received a warrant against Edwards for child molestation from Cobb County, and the district attorney immediately revoked his bond. We sent officers to arrest him last Thursday, April 14th, at his home at 239 Thimblemill Drive.”

According to the Magistrate Court of Cobb County, a warrant was issued on April 13 against Edwards for felony child molestation, violating O.C.G.A., section 16-6-4(a). The incidents occurred between April 4 and April 6.

Edwards apparently was visited acquaintances in Marietta, where the alleged incidents took place, Cobb County records show.

The warrant states that Edwards is accused of performing an immoral or indecent act to, or in the presence of, a child under the age of 16. The victim was an 11-year-old boy. According to the warrant, Edwards sneaked into the boy’s room after his parents went to bed.

Edwards is currently being held in the Lee County Jail on a $25,000 bond and will be transferred to the Cobb County Jail for prosecution, Lee County officials said.