Investigators said security footage showed the former employee entering the 15-year-old patient’s room at the Smyrna treatment facility.
SMYRNA, GA — A former employee of a Cobb County mental health facility has been arrested and charged after authorities accused him of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old patient multiple times, according to an arrest warrant.
Jalen Pugh, who worked at Ridgeview Institute in Smyrna, faces charges that include sexual assault, aggravated child molestation and statutory rape. The allegations remain unproven, and information about a plea or an attorney representing Pugh was not immediately available.
The warrant alleges that Pugh sexually assaulted the girl at least three times while she was receiving care at the facility. Investigators said Ridgeview Institute security cameras recorded Pugh entering the patient’s room. Authorities have not publicly released the footage or provided a full timeline of the alleged assaults.
The teenager’s mother said she reported the allegations to police. The girl has not been publicly identified because she is a minor and an alleged victim of sexual abuse. Authorities have released few details about how the alleged conduct was discovered or when Pugh stopped working at the facility.
Law enforcement officers initially announced that they were searching for Pugh in connection with the investigation. Police later said he had been arrested. Officials have not publicly disclosed where he was taken into custody or whether additional suspects are being investigated.
The charges accuse Pugh of criminal conduct involving a patient who was under the care and supervision of the facility. Sexual assault charges against employees of treatment centers can involve allegations that a worker abused a position of authority or access to a patient. The exact allegations against Pugh will be determined through the court process.
Ridgeview Institute has not released a detailed public account of the case, including whether Pugh had direct responsibility for the teenager’s care. It also was not immediately clear whether the facility conducted an internal review, changed its supervision procedures or reported the matter to state regulators.
No court date, bond information or additional case filings were available in the reports reviewed. The investigation and criminal case remain pending, and Pugh is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
Author note: Last updated July 14, 2026.