Gwinnett County Probationary Employee Arrested on Felony Child Molestation Charges

LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. – A Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office (GCSO) employee has been terminated and arrested following a disturbing investigation into the exploitation of a minor. The Gwinnett County Police Department’s Special Victims Unit (SVU) spearheaded the probe, which led to multiple felony charges. According GCPD, detectives received a report where a parent had found elicit messages from an adult to her teenage daughter under 16 years of age. During the investigation, 21-year-old Rylee Willis was identified as the suspect.

Willis, who was serving as a probationary employee with the Sheriff’s Office, was taken into custody on January 8, 2026.

The Charges

The investigation by the Special Victims Unit resulted in four serious felony counts against Willis:

Two counts of Child Molestation
Two counts of Enticing a Child for Indecent Purposes

Employment Status and Agency Response

The Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that Willis was an entry-level employee. Under agency policy, all sworn and non-sworn staff must complete a two-year probationary period before achieving permanent status.

At the time of the alleged incidents and his subsequent arrest, Willis was still within this probationary window. The GCSO acted swiftly following the investigation; Willis is no longer employed by the agency.

“The Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office holds its employees to the highest standards of professionalism and accountability,” the agency said in a formal statement.

Ongoing Investigation

The Gwinnett County Police Department indicated that this remains an active and ongoing investigation. Authorities have not yet released specific details regarding the age of the victim or the circumstances surrounding the alleged enticement to protect the integrity of the case.

The Sheriff’s Office is encouraging anyone with additional information to come forward.