NORTH FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — Channel 2 Action News has obtained new details in the arrest of a man who police say worked in two Alpharetta day cares. State officials are defending their decision to allow the suspect to work with children despite previous arrests for child molestation.
Channel 2's Mike Petchenik broke news of the arrest a few weeks ago.
Alpharetta police arrested Cayden Williams earlier in September on charges he had an inappropriate sexual relationship with a teenager.
Police say it wasn't his first arrest for child-related sex crimes, but he was not convicted following those prior arrests.
State officials say they weren't allowed to tell day cares about those arrests.
"When the owners and childcare providers do everything right and the state does everything wrong, then children and their families are exposed," the Rev. Markel Hutchins said last week.
He spoke on behalf of the owners of an Alpharetta day care angered the state didn't make them aware that an employee had prior arrests for child molestation in another state.
"This gentleman weaseled his way into an environment he did not deserve to be in," Hutchins said.
Keith Bostick is deputy commissioner of the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning.
While federal law prevents him from talking about the Cayden Williams case, he told Petchenik his agency did do a national background check.
"If those histories showed arrest data, but no conviction or that someone was acquitted, that in itself would not prohibit a person from working in a child care site," Williams said.
Police say Williams changed his name when he moved to Georgia.
But Bostick says a newly passed law allows the state to background check by fingerprint.
"Names can change as many times as they want, but fingerprints can't," Bostick said.
Bostick says once the agency learned of Williams' Alpharetta arrest on charges he blackmailed a teen into a sexual relationship, the state revoked his ability to work in child care.
"We responded quickly when it became known to us," Bostick said.
Williams is in Fulton County jail awaiting trial. Petchenik tried to reach him by phone and email to no avail. Police say they have no evidence he committed any crimes at the day cares where he was working.
WSBTV
