Posted by Staff Reports | Jul 30, 2026 | Alabama News, Cherokee News | 0 | Following an intensive four-week multi-agency investigation, law enforcement officers have apprehended a fugitive wanted for the sexual abuse of a child under the age of 12. The investigation began near the end of June 2026, when the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) and the Department of Human Resources (DHR) received a complaint regarding suspected child sexual abuse at a residence near Geraldine, AL. Investigators and DHR responded immediately. Following a forensic interview conducted through the Children’s Advocacy Center, investigators established sufficient probable cause to obtain an arrest warrant for Charles Wayne Hice Sr. (66 of Geraldine, Al). Before officers could execute the warrant, Hice fled the state. Over the next three weeks, DCSO investigators interviewed multiple witnesses and uncovered evidence detailing years of abuse by Hice, as well as additional victims across both Alabama and Georgia. During the search, DCSO investigator received a tip that Hice had been seen in the Rossville, Georgia area and in contact with Jonathan Lecroy (41 of Rossville, Ga). DCSO contacted investigators in Rossville and when questioned by Rossville and DCSO investigators, Lecroy claimed that Hice had come to his property about three weeks earlier but left walking, and hasn’t been seen since. Investigators explicitly warned Lecroy that Hice was a wanted fugitive and instructed him to contact law…
*This content (including text, artwork, graphics, photography, and video) was provided by the third party(ies) as referenced above. Any rights or other content questions or inquiries should be directed to such third-party provider(s).
