MITCHELL COUNTY, Georgia. — A former Mitchell County Middle School teacher has been taken into custody on multiple child sex crime charges following a multi-agency investigation, authorities announced.
According to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, 34-year-old Willie James Silas of Baconton faces one count each of sexual exploitation of children, grooming of a minor for a sexual offense, and child molestation.
The GBI reported that Silas was apprehended on May 5 in St. Augustine, Florida. Following his arrest, he was extradited back to Georgia and booked into the Mitchell County Jail.
The criminal investigation originated outside the state after the New Castle County Police Department in Delaware obtained information regarding a local child victim, which ultimately pointed investigators toward Silas.
School administrators addressed the situation publicly via social media, confirming they are aware of the arrest involving a former employee. The Mitchell County School System stated that the GBI contacted the district prior to the arrest, prompting full cooperation with law enforcement officials. The district noted that the individual is no longer present on any school campus.
District officials did not clarify whether Silas was actively employed at Mitchell County Middle School up until the day of his arrest, referring to him strictly as a former employee.
In an official statement, the Mitchell County School System emphasized that student and staff safety remains its highest priority. District leaders expressed gratitude for the coordination between the local Board of Education Police Department and external law enforcement agencies while reaffirming their commitment to securing a safe learning environment.
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