SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) — A former Chatham County Sheriff’s Office corporal accused of sexually abusing five children appeared in court Wednesday to enter a plea.
Kenneth Dwayne Morrell, 36, pleaded not guilty to 11 felony child sex crimes, including rape, aggravated sodomy, and aggravated child molestation. He requested a jury trial during the hearing before Judge Middleton.
According to the indictment, the alleged abuse occurred between 2004 and 2010 and involved five victims — three under the age of 10 and two under 16. Morrell was reportedly between 19 and 20 years old at the time of the alleged offenses.
Morrell was employed with the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office from 2016 to 2020, serving as a jailor and corporal. He was terminated six days before his arrest, following an internal investigation that found he had sent sexually explicit messages to a subordinate, shared photos on Instagram, and transferred money via Cash App — all while married.
One of the victims, Powers, spoke exclusively to WTOC, describing the lifelong impact of the abuse.
“He destroyed me as a child. My childhood was ruined,” she said, recalling that Morrell’s family member was her babysitter during the years she was abused from kindergarten through fourth grade.
She revealed that another relative was also a victim, allegedly assaulted at age 3. Powers urged other survivors to speak out and called on parents to believe their children.
Morrell remains out on bond. His next court appearance is scheduled for October 3 at 9:30 a.m.
