Inset: Charles Battles (Gordon County Sheriff’s Office). Background: The home in Gordon County, Ga., that Charles Battles allegedly set on fire with a mother and her “small child” inside (WAGA).
A Georgia man faces attempted murder charges after allegedly igniting a fire at a residence inhabited by a mother and her young child, just a few months following his arrest for stalking and harassing the woman. Authorities report that he is currently on probation for previous misconduct, which included “climbing onto the hood” of the woman’s vehicle, as detailed in court documents.
Charles Battles, 46, is accused of setting the fire at the Gordon County home early Saturday morning. After the incident, he reportedly fled, prompting local law enforcement to initiate a manhunt over the weekend. Battles was apprehended on Sunday and now faces several charges, including arson, aggravated stalking, and attempted murder. Although the mother and child managed to escape, their current condition remains undisclosed.
“The home was occupied at the time by a woman and a small child, who barely escaped with their lives,” stated the Gordon County Sheriff’s Office in a press release on Saturday. “The structure was destroyed.”
Earlier, Battles had been arrested for harassing the victim and pleaded guilty to aggravated stalking in October, as court records reveal. At the time of the alleged arson, he was serving a probationary sentence.
According to charging documents obtained by Law&Crime, Battles was previously apprehended in July for “climbing on top of the hood” of the woman’s car, inflicting damages exceeding $500. On that day, he visited the now-ruined home on Johnson Drive “with the intent to harass and intimidate” her, the documents state.
The documents further allege, “On or about the 18th day of July, 2025, [Battles] did, with the purpose of terrorizing [the victim], threaten to commit aggravated assault.”
“[Battles] did knowingly and without authority enter upon the land of [the victim], the rightful occupant … after having received notice from said rightful occupant that such entry was forbidden,” the documents add.
For the fire incident, police said they recovered “an abundance of evidence: physical, electronic, and testimonial” linking Battles to the blaze. He allegedly fled on foot after starting the fire and was caught at a “private residence” near Scottsville “with the invaluable help of our private citizens,” according to cops.
“He was surprised by the arresting officers and apprehended without incident,” the sheriff’s office said in its press release. “It was important that this matter be resolved quickly given the nature and severity of these crimes,” Sheriff Mitch Ralston explained in a statement. “Everyone involved worked around the clock to bring this defendant in, and now he will be held accountable in our courts.”
