A 19-year-old man is facing sexual battery charges after the George County Sheriff’s Office accused him of assaulting a child under the age of 14 over a span of several years.
Brenten A. Chavers is now facing two counts of sexual battery following an investigation by the George County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies say they collected enough evidence during the probe to move the case forward for prosecution, which led a judge to sign two separate warrants against him.
Rather than being taken into custody by law enforcement, Chavers turned himself in to investigators on July 27. He was brought before a judge shortly after, where his bond was set at $100,000 for each charge, bringing his total bond to $200,000.
Reports on his custody status differ slightly. WLOX reported that Chavers remains held at the George County Regional Correctional Facility, while WJTV reported he has since been released after posting bond.
The discrepancy may reflect the timing of each outlet’s reporting, since Chavers could have been released after WLOX’s initial report.
Sheriff Calls Child Crimes Among the Most Serious Cases
Sheriff Mitchell Mixon addressed the case directly, saying cases involving children rank among the most serious crimes his office investigates and that his department remains committed to pursuing justice for victims. He also used the moment to encourage anyone with knowledge of abuse or neglect in the community to come forward and speak with investigators.
Mixon has not released further details about how the case came to the attention of deputies or what evidence led to the charges, saying the investigation is still active. Because the case remains open, it is possible that additional charges or information could surface as authorities continue their work.
Neither outlet has reported whether Chavers has entered a plea or retained an attorney. No court date for his next appearance has been made public at this time.
George County has seen other high-profile cases involving crimes against children in the region recently, underscoring what local law enforcement officials describe as an ongoing focus on protecting minors in their communities.
Sheriffs across the Mississippi Gulf Coast have repeatedly urged residents to report suspected abuse rather than stay silent, arguing that community tips often play a critical role in building cases that hold up in court.
This story will likely be updated as more information becomes available from the George County Sheriff’s Office or through court proceedings tied to the case.
