Augusta, Ga. — An Augusta man has been arrested and charged with multiple counts of child molestation following several reports of inappropriate behavior near children.

The accused, 60-year-old Dennis Jennings, faces six counts of non-aggravated child molestation after a disturbing incident took place on Saturday in the area of Brussels Street.

The allegations surfaced when a child captured video footage of Jennings engaging in lewd behavior while watching children play nearby. The children involved, aged between 7 and 13, were reportedly subjected to the disturbing acts. The video, which has since circulated on social media, played a crucial role in the investigation.

Neighbors had long expressed concerns about Jennings’ actions, with several previous incidents reported over the past two years. According to Richmond County deputies, Jennings was arrested in 2023 on charges of public indecency and placed on a 12-month probation. However, locals say that the probation did little to curb his behavior, with some claiming it only escalated the situation. The case gained significant attention when one of Jennings’ neighbors, who had been monitoring the situation for months, managed to capture the crucial video evidence. “I was in the living room, and I was laying down watching TV when the kids ran in the house.

My son said, ‘Mama, he’s doing it again. I got the video,’” the neighbor recalled. This video was the key piece of evidence deputies had been waiting for in order to take action against Jennings. This wasn’t the first time Jennings had been accused of inappropriate conduct. Reports show that he had been under suspicion for similar incidents since 2023. In one report, a neighbor accused him of touching himself while sitting on an electrical box. In another, he was accused of exposing himself to children playing outside. Other reports in 2024 and early 2025 further allege that Jennings engaged in lewd acts while in view of children, often near their homes. Despite numerous accusations, law enforcement struggled to take action until the video was obtained. Richmond County deputies noted that such cases are often difficult to prosecute without clear evidence, and video footage has proven to be an invaluable tool in these types of investigations. “Investigators see 15 to 20 cases like this every week. It all comes down to video evidence,” said a local law enforcement official. “Without it, these cases are often a matter of ‘he said, she said.'” In the wake of Jennings’ arrest, local residents have expressed their frustration with the ongoing issues in their neighborhood. Some say their children are now afraid to play outside due to the presence of the accused, while others point to the challenges of ensuring that their voices are heard by authorities.

One neighbor explained, “I’ve been getting complaints from other neighbors about Jennings, but I never thought we would be the ones affected. Our kids can’t even go outside anymore, and it’s just not right.” The case has also prompted the neighborhood watch to increase its efforts, using social media to gather information and encourage potential victims to come forward. As the investigation continues, the role of digital platforms in modern crime prevention has become evident.

Sergeant Gore of the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office emphasized, “Everybody talks about everything on social media. We find out about crimes we didn’t even know about. We reach out to victims and try to gather more information to move the investigation forward.”

The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are urging anyone with additional information to come forward.

In the meantime, Jennings remains in custody, awaiting further legal proceedings as the community grapples with the disturbing nature of the charges.