Woman Claims Probation Officer Rod Sellers Groped Her

CLAYTON COUNTY, Ga. -- A state probation officer was arrested by Clayton County police on Monday after a female probationer said he groped her and sent her explicit pictures of himself.

GA Daily News investigative reporter Mark Winne spoke to the accuser and the probation officer, who denied allegations that he touched her but admitted he made a ”stupid human mistake.

The probation officer, who is also a former pro-basketball player, was fired from his job at the Georgia Department of Corrections after one of his probationers claimed he grabbed her buttocks when they met one day in February.

The victim, who asked to be called Melony, said, ”He touched me on my butt and he asked me for a kiss and I told him no.

Rod Sellers is charged with engaging in sexual contact with a person over whom he had disciplinary authority.

Sellers denied the allegations in an exclusive interview with Winne.

”We talked and we laughed and we discussed some things, but at no point, at no point did I touch her whatsoever, Sellers said.

Records indicate that Sellers sent Melony text messages as well as pictures depicting his private parts. Sellers admitted to sending the inappropriate texts and pictures, but his attoey said, ”There’s nothing illegal to what he did with the cellphone if there are photographs, said Seller’s attoey, David West.

Sellers expressed regret for his behavior on the job.

”I made a foolish human mistake just flirting, said Sellers.

Melony insisted that what Sellers did was wrong.

”I’m not gonna say that I wasn’t a little intimidated by him, because I was, but I still felt as though what he did was wrong and that I deserve justice, she said.

Sellers provided the following statement to Clayton County police: ”I’m writing to say that I did send inappropriate text and pictures to [Melony]. I did not touch [her]. Bad judgment on my part and for that I’m sorry. I know that it was wrong of me. I do apologize. However, I must say that I never physically touched [Melony].

West said his client showed horrible judgment but insisted Sellers did not break the law and is not guilty of what he is charged with.

West pointed to Sellers’ successful basketball career with UConn and 14 years in the European professional leagues with no previous allegations of this kind.

However, Clayton County Police Department’s investigation of the case further uncovered that Sellers had a sexual relationship with another female probationer, according to a Department of Corrections official.

”This complainant alleges they went to Seller’s home and they have had sexual contact. After I seized the personal cellphone used by Sellers, I did observe text messages coming in from the alleged victim in the second complaint, a detective said.

West said if that happened, there’s no evidence his client knew she was on probation and there was no crime.

Documents show the Georgia Department of Corrections is still actively investigating the allegation involving a second female probationer.

Sellers apologized on camera to his former employer for whom he worked for less than a year.

”I just want to apologize to the probation department, especially my chief in my office, because they took a chance on me, said Sellers.

Melony said, ”I just really want the world to know that it’s not about anything but justice.

At last check on Tuesday night, Sellers was in jail waiting to make a $50,000 bond.