Judge Who Let Child Molestation Case Fall Through the Cracks Resigns Amid Probe
A Georgia judge who acknowledged he let a child molestation case fall through the cracks has resigned amid an ethics investigation into the case and two other issues.
Judge Douglas Pullen of Columbus agreed to step down before the Judicial Qualifications Commission could begin a formal hearing into the allegations, report the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer. On Monday, the commission revealed in a court filing why it had opened the probe.
The commission said it had been investigating:
• Whether Pullen failed to comply with the law when he presided over the case of Melvin Moseley, who was sentenced to 15 years in prison in 2002 for molesting a 15-year-old high school student he met at church. Pullen allowed Moseley to remain free on bond pending a sexual and psychological evaluation, and the case “fell through the cracks,” Pullen told the Ledger-Inquirer in a prior story. Moseley remained free until two weeks ago.
• Whether Pullen allowed social or professional relationships to influence his judgment.
• Whether Pullen had ex parte communications with lawyers whose cases were pending before him.
