Former Woodstock Church of Christ Pastor Charged with Child Molestation

A former pastor was charged with the child molestation of his granddaughter which occurred numerous times between 1991 and 1999. Sandy Springs Police investigators obtained warrants for the 86-year-old now North Carolina man.

Clarence Caldwell Arquitt Jr., of Sanford, NC, is charged on the warrants with molesting the victim from the time she was approximately 3 years old until she reached the age of 11. From 1996 to 1999, investigators believe that she was molested at his residence on Garden Court in Sandy Springs and prior to 1996, at his residence in Woodstock.

The victim, now in her 20s, contacted Sandy Springs Police and subsequently met with investigators in early August of this year. The investigation resulted in warrants issued on the charges of child molestation, aggravated child molestation and sodomy.

Arquitt, when contacted, refused to return to Georgia to answer the charges. He was booked on the charges, into the Lee County, North Carolina Sheriff’s Department Jail and is currently free on a $30,000 bond. Sandy Springs investigators are now working with the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office to extradite Arquitt to Georgia. He is fighting extradition.

Information given to investigators also indicates that Arquitt, a preacher by profession, worked in numerous positions in several churches:

Dasher (Ga. Christian School and Home)

Marietta (Olive Street Church of Christ and Piedmont Road Church of Christ)

Kennesaw (North Cobb Church of Christ)

Woodstock (Woodstock Church of Christ)

Nashville, TN (Vultee Church of Christ)

Jackson, TN (Unknown church)

Deason, TN (Deason Church of Christ)

Corinth, Miss. (Footstreet Church of Christ)

Panama City, FL (St. Andrews Church of Christ)

Montgomery, AL (Faulkner University-formerly known as Alabama Christian College.)