A veteran Atlanta police officer appeared before a judge Tuesday morning on child molestation charges. Bernett Collins was assigned as a beat officer in Zone one. According to an investigator who testified at Collins’ preliminary hearing Tuesday, Collins met his 13-year-old victim while responding to a domestic violence call at her Northwest Atlanta home.
Detective Kevin Leonpacher testified that Collins took a liking to the young girl and began contacting her repeatedly after the initial call. Leonpacher testified that Collins sent dozens of text messages to the middle schooler, including some asking her to send him naked pictures. He also testified that the girl told investigators that Collins groped her and “felt on her” several times during visits to her home.
Leonpacher testified that the girl complained to a school resource officer, who in turn notified APD headquarters. Collins was arrested by the Office of Professional Standards on May 3 and charged with sexual battery, enticing a child for indecent purposes, violation of oath of office, exploitation of a minor and child molestation. He’s now on unpaid leave from the department while the investigation continues.
