A Hall County man was being held without bail Thursday on charges of child molestation involving incidents that took place over a 21-month time period with a child who was under age 16 at the time.
Jose Celso Penado, 39, was also being held on an immigration hold in addition to the child molestation charge, according to a statement released by the Hall County Sheriff’s Office. He was arrested without incident.
The warrant charging Penado alleges that he “performed an immoral and indecent act” on the victim “repeatedly.” It alleges the molestation took place between Dec. 1, 2014, and Aug. 23, 2016.
This case remains under investigation by the sheriff’s office, according to the statement.