According to the Catoosa County Sheriff's Office:
Christopher Douglas Pursley, 19, of Kenny Lane in Ringgold was booked about 5:10 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 13, on charges of rape, two counts of aggravated child molestation, two counts of child molestation, aggravated sexual battery, false imprisonment, statutory rape, cruelty to children, and incest.
Pursley remained in the Catoosa County jail Thursday morning with no bond set.
A Catoosa County grand jury returned an indictment against Pursley on the 10 charges on Wednesday, Oct. 17, that alleges Pursley committed the acts against a young girl on more than one occasion between April 2009 and April 2010.
According to Catoosa County detective Lt. Chris Lyons, Pursley was minor himself at the time the incidents took place, but is being charged as an adult.
"The victim in the case was 12 years old during the alleged incidents, while Pursley was 16 years of age at the time," Lyons said.
In addition to the charges in this case, Lyons said, Pursley is already a registered sex offender.
"He (Pursley) has a previous conviction of statutory rape in a completely separate case that took place while this case was under investigation," Lyons said.
Pursley's sexual offender page states that he was convicted of felony statutory rape on Aug. 23, 2011.
Following the October grand jury indictment, Pursley, now 19 years old, became wanted on the 10 active warrants. He then unknowingly captured himself for police.
"Being a registered sex offender, Mr. Pursley, like all other sex offenders, is required to periodically update his status with the Sheriff's Office," Lyons said. "Mr. Pursley came to office on Tuesday in an attempt to update that status, at which time he was arrested on the outstanding warrants."





