VIENNA — Text messages between a county employee and a 12-year old female led to an investigation that ended with his arrest.

Nicholas Lee Cochran, 32 of Byromville, is being held at the Dooly County Detention center facing charges of child molestation.

The charges came after the mother of the minor female encountered some text messages that concerned her on the child’s cell phone. The mother then spoke with Chief Jamey Reed of the Vienna Police Department who then called in investigators with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

Gary Rothwell, special agent in charge in the Perry office of the GBI said that the investigation is ongoing.