Mixed Emotions

Headlines read: "Child Molester Strangled to death in Valdosta Prison"

A convicted child molester who has Bartow County connections was strangled to death by another inmate at Valdosta State Prison. John Henry Arnett, 27, was found dead in his prison cell last Thursday. An inmate serving time for a murder conviction is accused of killing him by manual strangulation. Arnett was convicted of 3 counts of child molestation in Bartow County. He was arrested by White, GA, Police after the mother of a 6 year old girl filed a report regarding an incident that happened from August 1, 2005 - November 30, 2005 on East Rocky Street at a local church. City of White police chief David King determined that Arnett had committed the crime when he lived at 12 East Rocky Street in White, Georgia, and found him jailed in Appling County where he had been sentenced to 30 years with 15 years to serve for 6 counts of child molestation and 6 counts of aggravated child molestation. In a negotiated agreement with prosecuting attorneys, Arnett pleaded guilty to three counts of child molestation in Bartow County. Arnett was sentenced to serve concurrent with the sentences from Appling County and ordered to abide by special conditions for sex offenders.


My daughter was the child violated in Bartow County Georgia. My husband is the pastor of the local church in White, Georgia, where the instances occured. Our family took him into our home on many occasions for Bible Study, our daughters 4th birthday party, and provided transportation for John to and from church and to several youth events. We never once suspected his motives of interest in our 4 year old daughter.

It was April of 2008 when my daughter spoke up. She was 6 years old. We were teaching her and her older brother the concepts of “good touch, bad touch.” She innocently asked her daddy if he remembered “big John.” Upon clarification of which John she was referring to and her pointing to his house as they drove by she continued with “why did he touch me around my panties if that is ‘bad touch’?"… Needless to say…upon further investigations there were determined to be 3 occasions where he inappropriately touched her. He foundled her 3 known times during August of 2005 - November 2005. We took the recommended steps of filing a police report...conducting the child friendly taped interview...and wait for response of anything.

Warrants were immediately issued for his arrest. But we knew he was already being held in Appling County, Georgia on similiar charges.

In Sept of 2008, we were served subpeona's for Appling County, GA. Court started. We had to report to Appling County as a witness of similar transaction. He was charged with 6 counts of child molestation & 6 counts of aggravated child molestation in Appling County. A total of 5 children (boys) were involved in the Appling County case.

In November of 2008, Mr. Arnett appeared in Bartow County Court to plea guilty for the 3 charges of child molestation of my daughter.

Because all occurrences happened before July 2006 he was only allowed sentencing of 10 years for the 1st offense and 15 years for each additional charge. If the charges would have been after July 2006 the charges would have been life in prison. The Bartow County DA was going to push for trial and for a conviction of life in prison... however, he accepted the plea bargain.

“Do I feel sorry for him?”
Well… I’ve pondered this all afternoon. How do I feel? I am composed of many mixed emotions today. Relief? Comfort? Heartache? He was someone’s son, brother, friend… but… he violated MY child. He broke MY trust… do I dare say… Justice WAS served? The Lord does say “Vengeance is mine”… so was this His plan?
Is there peace found in justice served? or was this an injustice?