Teacher fired and arrested after GBI found he molested a child at a Georgia church

A Georgia Military College Prep School teacher has been fired and arrested after being accused of molesting a child at a church in Milledgeville, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

Michael Talton Lee Barnes, 24, of Haddock, Georgia, is facing four counts of child molestation and one count of enticing a child for indecent purposes, according to a GBI press release issued Friday.

The GMC Police Department called in the GBI after allegations surfaced that Barnes had “inappropriate sexual contact” with a minor, and investigators say their preliminary findings confirmed he was having sexual contact with a child at a local church in Milledgeville.

In a statement to WGXA, a GMC spokesperson said the alleged incident happened off campus and “did not involve school-sponsored activities,” adding that Barnes was “immediately terminated” and removed from campus after the school initially reviewed the allegation.

Barnes was booked into the Baldwin County Jail, and the investigation is still ongoing.

GMC says it is fully cooperating with law enforcement throughout the case and that protecting its students remains the top concern.

“The safety and well-being of our students remain our highest priority. Georgia Military College is cooperating fully with local law enforcement as their investigation continues,” GMC wrote.

Anyone with information about the case is encouraged to contact the GBI regional investigative office in Milledgeville at 478-445-4173.