EMT, Woman Arrested On Over 20 Counts Of Child Abuse Involving 2-Year-Old: Police

A man and a woman in Douglas County, Georgia, have been arrested on over 20 counts of child abuse.

The Douglas County Sheriff's Office launched a criminal investigation after a "concerned citizen" reported late last month that a 2-year-old was being abused, according to an official release from the office.

The sheriff's office said it investigated intensively for nearly two weeks and arrested 19-year-old Cristian Anthony Stern, a Georgia EMT, and 20-year-old Logan Steele, the mother of the child, Monday.

Stern's charges included aggravated assault related to strangulation, cruelty to children in the first degree and sexual battery, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.

Steele was charged with cruelty to children in the second degree, accomplice to child abuse and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

Both were also charged with submitting a false statement.

Police confirmed that Stern was not the child's father.

Stern is active in the Georgia National Guard, according to authorities. As an EMT, he has worked on several Metro Atlanta area ambulance services.

The investigation is currently ongoing, but deputies are concerned that there could be more potential victims.

Investigators are asking anyone who has experienced abuse or if their child has been abused by the suspect to contact Investigator Andrew Hynninen at 678-486-1245 or at Ahynninen@sheriff.douglas.ga.us.

Cases of child abuse in Georgia have increased since children returned to school, 11Alive News reported.

"During the heat of the pandemic, the number of cases that were coming in, went down, because we knew children were at home," Sheila Ryan, CEO of the Georgia Center for Child Advocacy, said. "But we also knew that the cases that were being reported were much more severe than they had been on average in the past. Now that kids are back in school, we are seeing our cases go up tremendously."

Ryan said the center's caseload went up 20% last year, and for 2022, the center is already seeing an increase of 10% compared to the year prior. Ryan said she expects such trends to continue.

"40% of the cases that are brought to light are done so through teachers, as mandated reporters," Ryan said.