A Brooks man has been charged with the molestation of two female victims. Investigators also found a large volume of child pornography on his home computer for which charges are pending.
Thomas J. Brandlehner, 57, of 135 Elsberry Lane east of Brooks, was charged with one count of aggravated sexual battery, one count of sexual battery, two counts of child molestation and two counts of enticing a child for indecent purposes, according to Fayette County Sheriff Barry Babb.
Babb said there are aspects of the case which cannot be disclosed at this time due to the investigation that is ongoing, though he did disclose that the two victims were female.
“I will only divulge the fact that the victims are female. We have a moral and legal obligation to protect the identity of the victims,” Babb said. “Brooks is a small community and any more descriptive information could lead to knowledge of who the girls are and therefore no further information will be released by our office.”
Babb said on Dec. 21 his office was advised of a child molestation which took place at 135 Elsberry Lane.
The sheriff’s Criminal Investigations Division and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s Child Exploitation and Computer Crimes Unit conducted a search warrant at the address, where GBI investigators assisted with the evidence retrieval of the home computer, Babb said.
“Investigators located several terabyte hard drives of child pornography images and videos from the home computer,” Babb said.
Babb said further charges are pending while the case in being investigated by the sheriff’s office and GBI agents.
