Former VA director facing new child molestation charges

The former Carl Vinson VA Medical Center director has been arrested again in a new case where he was charged with aggravated child molestation and cruelty to children in the second degree.

Manuel Davila, 57, was arrested Wednesday and remained in custody a day latter said Laurens County Investigator Lt. Jeremy Reese. 

“This is a completely separate and new case,” Reese said. “He was out on bond and some new charges came up. These stand alone from the old ones. Sometimes new evidence or victims come forward and that might lead to a new investigation or a new case.”

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In March of 2024, Davila was charged with four counts of child molestation, cruelty to children in first degree and enticing a child for indecent purposes. He resigned from the VA on March 4, 2024. 

In February of 2025, additional charges of child molestation and computer or electronic pornography were added to Davila. Those charges were connected to the previous arrest that happened the previous March. 

Davila was appointed director of the Dublin VA in January 2022. Prior to that, he was associate director for the Southeast Louisiana Veterans Health Care System in New Orleans, La., after serving as associate director at the West Texas VA Heath Care System in Big Spring, Texas. 

Reese said the investigation into Davila continues.

“The thing about these cases, and because they are underage victims, sometimes when a person goes to jail other victims come forward,” Reese said. “If there is anyone who has any other information, or anybody who needs to contact us in reference to Mr. Davila, we are definitely open to talking to them.” 

People can call the Laurens County Sheriff’s Office and ask for the  investigation division at (478) 272-1522.