Preacher Accused of Child Molestation

charging him with the Child Molestation of his granddaughter which occurred numerous times between 1991 and 1999.

Clarence Caldwell Arquitt Jr., of Sanford, N.C. is charged on the warrants with molesting the victim from the time she was approximately 3-years-old until she reached the age of 11. From 1996 to 1999, investigators believe that she was molested at his residence on Garden Court in Sandy Springs and prior to 1996, at his residence in Woodstock.

The victim, now in her 20’s, contacted Sandy Springs Police and subsequently met with investigators in early August of this year. The investigation resulted in warrants issued on the charges of Child Molestation, Aggravated Child Molestation, and Sodomy.

Arquitt, when contacted, refused to return to Georgia to answer the charges. He was booked on the charges, into the Lee County, North Carolina Sheriff’s Department Jail and is currently free on a $30,000 bond. Sandy Springs investigators are now working with the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office to extradite Arquitt to Georgia. He is fighting extradition.

Information given to investigators also indicates that Arquitt, a preacher by profession, worked in numerous positions in several churches in the southeast.

Investigators have determined that Arquitt has held positions at churches in metro Atlanta and throughout the Southeast. Arquitt previously worked at North Cobb Church of Christ, Olive Street Church of Christ and Piedmont Road Church of Christ in Cobb County, and Woodstock Church of Christ in Cherokee County.