A 50-year-old Newton County man has been charged with child molestation, just six months after his arrest for family violence.

Frank Charles Amato was arrested in June after reportedly beating his 8-year-old niece and 6-year-old nephew, both of whom he had custody of at the time since the children’s father was incarcerated and their mother was not in their life.

According to Newton County Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer 1st Lt. Mark Mitchell, authorities began investigating charges that Amato had molested an elementary-aged child.

Investigators arrested Amato on Dec. 22 and charged him with child molestation, aggravated child molestation and sexual battery. He is being held at the Newton County Detention Center without bond.