Henry County JROTC instructor wanted for sexual assault surrenders a month later

Rodney Freeman (Henry County Police Department)

The former JROTC instructor and educator at Union Grove High School, accused of sexual assault in McDonough, has turned himself in, according to the U.S. Marshals Service. 

Freeman was taken into custody on Jan. 14 at 9:57 a.m., according to booking records from Henry County Jail. He is facing one count of sexual assault by a person with supervisory and/or disciplinary authority.

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The backstory:

The Henry County Police Department reported that the alleged assault occurred on Dec. 13, leading to an active arrest warrant for the suspect, Freeman. He was last seen at his home on Saffron Lane in McDonough at around 2:30 p.m. on Dec. 17. An alert was issued the next day reporting him as missing.

Freeman was placed on administrative leave by Union Grove High School after the allegation surfaced. 

"Henry County Schools was made aware of a law enforcement investigation involving one of our staff members. This prompted him to be placed on administrative leave. He has since become the subject of a missing persons investigation, and a warrant has been issued for his arrest related to an off-campus incident. No further information is available at this time due to the ongoing nature of these investigations."

Why you should care:

This case highlights the importance of addressing allegations of misconduct swiftly and transparently, particularly in educational settings. It also underscores the role of law enforcement and the public in locating individuals wanted for serious allegations.

What's next:

Freeman will face legal proceedings in connection with the charge of sexual assault.

Henry CountyCrime and Public SafetyNews