Eugene Quinn Jr. was arrested by the Decatur County Sheriff’s Office on charges of sexual assault and aggravated sexual battery after allegedly assaulting a 54-year-old female at the homeless shelter he owns and operates in Climax. The shelter operates under the name Climax Outreach Ministries and is located on Thomasville Road. 

According to DCSO, the alleged assault happened on New Years Eve and was reported on Jan. 2.

Men at the shelter reportedly gave the victim alcohol until the point that she was intoxicated. Quinn then allegedly assaulted her.

In the initial report, the victim stated that she was unsure if it was one or two people that assaulted her and that the next morning Quinn and multiple other men at the shelter asked her about the experience. 

DCSO Chief Deputy Wendell Cofer said that this is the first major incident that has been reported at the shelter and their only previous contact has been with residents that either had outstanding warrants or caused a disturbance.

“We have had issues at the address with the various homeless people that have come through, but not many, two or three in the past four or five years,” Cofer said. “We haven’t had any issues with [Quinn]. This appears to be an isolated incident. We have not to our knowledge had any other sexual assaults reported at that location.”

He added that there is not much information on the shelter itself as there is very little oversight of them.

“Anyone can run a homeless shelter as long as they are complying with a couple of Georgia laws and they only deal with if you are doing it with elderly people, with care homes”, he said. “I am not aware of any laws that govern specifically homeless shelters.”

A representative of the shelter said that they have been in operation for five years, but declined additional comment citing the ongoing investigation.