NEWMAN, Ga. — A Newnan man has been arrested and charged with child molestation more than a decade after the alleged incident took place.
John Caldwell III, 66, was taken into custody by Newnan Police after a now-adult woman came forward with allegations that Caldwell molested her as a child. The woman told authorities she was motivated to speak out due to concerns that there may be other victims.
Following the report, investigators searched Caldwell’s home and conducted an interview with him. Based on evidence recovered during the investigation, police charged Caldwell with one count of child molestation. He is currently being held at the Coweta County Jail without bond.
“She was concerned that it might have happened to others,” said Detective Shawna Wade of the Newnan Police Department. Authorities are now urging anyone who may have had past interactions with Caldwell or any relevant information to contact them.
Caldwell was previously a well-known figure in the community. In 2021, he was honored as Marine of the Year for Coweta and Fayette Counties by the Marine Corps League. His biography noted that he was an Iraq War veteran, a member of a local color guard, and active in community theater as both actor and director.
Despite his decorated public image, police emphasize the seriousness of the charge and are continuing their investigation.
