57-year-old man pleads guilty to child molestation after masturbating in front of 10-year-old, DA says

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WARNER ROBINS – A Warner Robins man pleaded guilty to one count of child molestation for masturbating in front of a 10-year-old child. On Oct. 20, Jonathan Scott Beach, 57, was sentenced to 25 years, with the first 12 years to be served in prison, the Houston County District Attorney’s Office said.

According to a media release, an investigation showed that Beach openly masturbated in front of the child in 2020. Three years passed until the disclosure of the act. It was reported to law enforcement after the child detailed the abuse to a third-party child forensic interviewer at the Rainbow House Children’s Resource Center.

Sgt. Adrienne Hilton of the Houston County Sheriff’s Office Juvenile Investigations Division investigated the case. Beach was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Brandi Holland of the Houston Circuit District Attorney’s Office.

Holland provided comments on the case:

“Child sexual abuse, in any form, is not to be taken lightly. Mr. Beach broke the trust of the child victim and the child’s family while using his access to the child to satisfy himself by masturbating in the child’s presence. Thanks to the work of Sgt. Adrienne Hilton, as well as the Rainbow House, this abuse was brought to light, and the child was able to stand up to an abuser and take back power. This serves as a reminder that crimes against children will not be tolerated in Houston County.”

District Attorney Eric Edwards also provided comments:

“Every time a child is abused, our entire community is harmed. These cases are difficult not only for the victims but for everyone involved in bringing the truth to light. I’m grateful to the child in this case for finding the courage to speak up and to the professionals at the Rainbow House and the Sheriff’s Office who helped make that possible. The men and women of this office will never hesitate to stand up for a child who has been hurt or exploited. Houston County’s children deserve to grow up in safety, and anyone who violates that safety will be held accountable.”