LaGRANGE — A 37-year-old man accused of molesting a teenager made his first appearance Thursday morning in Troup County Magistrate Court.

Quincy Preston Fincher of LaGrange was charged with child molestation after several text messages between Fincher and the teen were discovered, said LaGrange Police Detective Jason Duncan. Fincher also allegedly wrote eight love letters to her and she wrote one back to him.

Duncan told the court Fincher discussed his marital problems in his correspondence with the young girl and said he wanted to be with the teen.

According to the detective, Fincher asked the juvenile to meet him somewhere in Alabama one evening after the Hummingbird Festival in Hogansville.

Duncan testified detectives recovered a pocket knife Fincher gave the teen to use as protection when she walked home after meeting him one night and a pair of underwear. But Duncan also said there was no evidence any force was used at any time when the pair was together.

Presiding Magistrate Court Judge Vickie Sue McWaters did grant Fincher a $25,000 surety bond, since he has no previous criminal record, and told him to have no contact with the victim or her family. McWaters also bound the case over to Troup County Superior Court.

A man accused of biting a LaGrange police officer while being arrested also made his first appearance in Magistrate Court on Thursday.

Tracey Julian Lowery, 46, is charged with felony obstruction and reckless conduct in the case. Officer Brady Pike told the court he and LaGrange Police Officer Nicholas Hayes were called to check on Lowery’s welfare outside the Pawn Express on 400 Hines Street on Oct. 7.

While talking with Lowery, Pike said the officers were informed by dispatch the man had an outstanding warrant.

According to Pike, officers told Lowery about the warrant and that he was being placed under arrest. Pike said the man immediately tensed up and ignored commands to put his hands behind his back. “Reasonable force” was used on Lowery, the officer stated.

Pike said as he and Hayes attempted again to place Lowery’s hands behind his back in handcuffs, the man bit him on the right knee.

Pike told the court Lowery’s bite on his knee did not rip his pants or tear into his skin.

The case was bound over to Troup County Superior Court.