EVANS, Ga. – The parents of a teen who says he was sexually assaulted inside the Columbia County Jail speak only to NBC Augusta 26 News about their son’s allegation.

“It doesn't matter what he's in there for, he still doesn't deserve this. He still doesn't deserve what happened, if it happened,” his father said.

His 17-year-old son is still in jail as of Monday night, but in a different cell from his accused attacker.

The sex crime happened early Friday morning. The teen told guards about the incident Friday afternoon.

"I think it's terrible, I mean my kid's not a great kid, and he’s not a bad kid. He did a crime and he's in jail for that crime,” his father said.

The man's 17-year-old son is in jail for shoplifting. His son is accusing his 19-year-old cellmate of sexually molesting him in the middle of the night.

His cellmate is in jail for driving with a suspended license and no insurance.

The Columbia County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the abuse claim.

"This is a serious allegation and we're going to conduct a complete and thorough investigation to determine what happened if anything happened,” said Capt. Steve Morris.

The young man was given a rape kit evaluation at the hospital and both he and his cellmate have been questioned.

"We have additional interviews tomorrow; we don't expect this to drag out for weeks or months,” Capt. Morris said.

The two inmates had been in the same cell for nine days.

"If they've got a guard there, and they watch them, then how does this happen?” his father said. “It’s not a state prison, its Columbia County Jail,” the teen’s father said.

"These things could happen consensually and not be detected by detention officers, to be sodomized against one's will is also possible,” Capt. Morris said.

Law enforcement officials are focusing their investigation on whether this act was consensual or not.

The young man's father says no matter what, he loves his son.
If his son is telling the truth, his cellmate's sentence could increase by up to 20 years.

If he's lying, he'll face a new charge of giving police false information which could increase his sentence by up to five years.

The investigation regarding who will be charged will be announced in the next few days.

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