Derek Cody Bowman, a Chattooga County resident arrested in December 2022 on charges of child molestation, has been found not guilty by a jury. The verdict was delivered in Chattooga County following a trial that examined allegations dating back to 2014 and 2015.

Bowman’s arrest came after a month-long investigation into accusations of sexual contact with a minor under the age of sixteen. The alleged incidents were reported to have occurred at Bowman’s residence on Summerville Gardens Drive. The investigation, led by Summerville Police Detectives in conjunction with the Department of Family & Children’s Services and the Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit’s Children’s Advocacy Center, involved multiple interviews and the collection of witness statements.

Authorities stated that the evidence gathered during the investigation provided sufficient grounds to secure an arrest warrant for Bowman on charges of child molestation.

After hearing the evidence presented, the jury concluded that the prosecution had not provided sufficient evidence to convict Bowman and returned a verdict of not guilty on all charges.