A man from Georgia is facing serious charges, including attempted murder, after allegedly setting fire to a home occupied by a mother and her young child. This disturbing incident comes just months after he was found guilty of stalking and harassing the same woman. According to court records, the man, Charles Battles, 46, had previously been involved in an incident where he was seen “climbing on top of the hood” of the woman’s car, resulting in significant damage.

The terrifying event unfolded on a Saturday morning around 6 a.m. in Gordon County. Authorities reported that Battles set the home on fire before fleeing the scene, prompting an urgent manhunt. By Sunday, law enforcement had successfully apprehended Battles and charged him with a slew of offenses, including arson, aggravated stalking, and attempted murder. Thankfully, the mother and her child managed to escape the blaze, although their current health status remains unclear.

In a statement released by the Gordon County Sheriff’s Office, the harrowing nature of the incident was underscored: “The home was occupied at the time by a woman and a small child, who barely escaped with their lives,” the release stated, noting that the house was completely destroyed by the fire.

Battles’ criminal history with the victim is well-documented. He had previously been arrested for harassing the woman and pled guilty to aggravated stalking in October. At the time of this latest incident, Battles was serving a probation sentence for his past transgressions.

Documents obtained by Law&Crime shed further light on Battles’ troubling behavior. In July, he was found guilty of causing more than $500 in damage to the woman’s car by climbing on its hood. On the same day, he reportedly went to her now-destroyed residence on Johnson Drive with the intent of harassing and intimidating her, according to the legal documents.

“On or about the 18th day of July, 2025, [Battles] did with the purpose of terrorizing [the victim] threaten to commit aggravated assault,” the documents allege.

“[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.”