Columbus Police Officer Arrested for Aggravated Child Molestation

COLUMBUS, GA — A 20-year-old Columbus Police officer who rose through the department’s cadet program is now behind bars facing several felony charges involving a 16-year-old victim. Ulises Israel Hernandez was arrested on Monday, March 2, 2026, and is currently being held without bond.

The arrest has sent shockwaves through the department, as Hernandez had been a visible face of the agency’s recruitment and youth programs over the last two years.

The Columbus Police Department (CPD) put out a statement saying that Hernandez has been removed from duty and no longer has authority as a police officer.

“While these allegations are serious, it is important for the public to know that we acted as soon as the information came to light. Holding people accountable, including our own, is necessary to maintain the trust placed in this department,” said the CPD in a statement.

The Investigation: From Cadet to Defendant

Hernandez joined the Columbus Police Department as a cadet and graduated from the police academy in 2025. However, court records from the Muscogee County E-Court Portal reveal a timeline of alleged criminal activity that predates his graduation:

• August 1, 2024: Felony charges of Child Molestation and the Creation/Possession of Visual Material Depicting a Minor stem from an incident reported on this date.
• July 31, 2025: A misdemeanor Battery charge is linked to a separate incident reported nearly a year later.
• The Victim: Authorities have identified the victim in these cases as a 16-year-old female.

Court Proceedings

Hernandez made his initial court appearance on March 3, 2026, where he entered a plea of not guilty to all charges. Due to the severity of the allegations, the judge ordered the case bound over to Superior Court. Hernandez remains in custody at the Muscogee County Jail in Columbus, GA, with no bond currently set.

Serious Felony Charges

Hernandez faces a combination of high-level felonies and a misdemeanor:

1. Aggravated Child Molestation (Felony)
2. Creating or Possessing Visual Medium Depicting a Minor (Felony)
3. Battery (Misdemeanor)

Under Georgia law, Aggravated Child Molestation is one of the most serious offenses a person can be charged with, carrying a mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years to life in prison upon conviction.