Toddler Assaulted At Woodstock Church, Steven Lee Garland wanted

Woodstock police want the public's help in finding an accused child molester. Officials said Steven Garland took advantage of a young child while visiting a local church.

Authorities said Steven Lee Garland, 54, was questioned by Woodstock police before he disappeared.

"He did allude in one of our conversations with him that we'd be looking for him," said Woodstock Police Chief Ric Moss.

He was right.

Police said Garland traveled from Texas to the North Gate Church in Woodstock February 21 to take part in a service. He was a visitor that, police said, made himself too comfortable, especially with children.

"For somebody to not have a relationship with the child, to go up to the child and touch them, pick them up, kiss them, put his hands in inappropriate places -- for a parent that is very unnerving," said Moss.

Church leadership called police and had Garland removed from the property. Authorities questioned him but it wasn't until later that a victim came forward.

"We did, in fact, identify a 3-year-old girl who had been molested by this individual. I'm working with the district attorney here in Cherokee County and we now have secured a warrant for sexual battery of a minor child," said Moss.

Police said Garland passes himself off as a lay preacher and may have used that M.O. to go to a local nursing home as well.

"We want to make sure that he didn't go to a facility of that nature and engage in similar contact with some of our elderly residents," said Moss.

Authorities said Garland may have left the area by now, but if not he would be driving a red Ford F-150 with a camper attached. Both have Texas tags. If you see him you are asked to call police.