Man charged in sexual assault on special needs child

VALDOSTA — A Valdosta man was charged Tuesday with the molestation of a child with an intellectual disability.

At 8 a.m. Tuesday, Valdosta Police Department detectives were made aware of a sexual assault that had occurred within the city limits overnight. A VPD statement said a citizen had brought the victim, who was under the age of 16 and had an intellectual disability, to the police department.

With the assistance of the Children’s Advocacy Center, detectives interviewed the victim. She told the detectives she met a male on WhatsApp. She stated that while communicating with this male on the app, he told her he was 20 years old, and she told him her real age. During conversations on the app, they discussed having a relationship.

The victim stated that at 1 a.m., the male came to her house and sexually assaulted her.

Detectives were able to identify the suspect as Keenan Richards, 33, through WhatsApp. A FLOCK automated license plate reader captured Richards’ vehicle in the area around the time the assault occurred, police said.

At 5:15 p.m., detectives found Richards’ vehicle outside of his residence in the 900 block of West Gordon Street.

“As detectives attempted to contact him at his apartment, Richards attempted to go out the back door,” police said, “but when he saw detectives, he quickly shut the door. Detectives made numerous attempts to get Richards to exit his apartment, and after receiving no response, detectives obtained a search warrant. Before detectives forced entry into the apartment, Richards exited and was detained without incident.”

Detectives interviewed Richards and served the search warrant on his residence.

Richards was arrested and taken to Lowndes County Jail. He has been charged with:

— 3 counts aggravated child molestation.

— Aggravated assault by strangulation.

— Statutory rape.

— Child molestation.

— Burglary in the first degree.

All of the charges are felonies. The case is still under investigation and police said further charges are pending.

“My heart breaks for this poor young victim, who placed her trust in an adult she met through an app, believing he cared about her and would take care of her,” said VPD Chief Leslie Manahan. “Instead, he used her trust to his benefit and subjected her to a heinous sexual assault that will forever change her life. I am so proud of the persistence of our department, working together to not only quickly identify him, but also to locate him and show patience in apprehending him, ensuring that he will be held accountable for preying on this vulnerable victim.”