WINDER - A suspected online predator has been arrested following an undercover investigation by Barrow County authorities.
Barrow County investigator Matt Guthas said Gregory Franklin Varner, 47, of Commerce was arrested after an undercover investigator posing as an underage female had ongoing conversations with him in an online chatroom. The conversations had been taking place since September 2010.
"Just one of the things that Mr. Varner repeatedly asked for were nude photos of the female, who he thought was under the age of 16, to be sent to him," said Guthas.
In additon, Guthas said that Varner made numerous other illicit requests and lewd statements.
The undercover officer not only chatted with Varner online, but also set up a Facebook page where conversations also took place.
"It's become more prevalent, as we see in continuing cases, where predators are not just going to use secret online chatrooms, they'll use any type of communication system over the internet that's easy," said Guthas.
Barrow County Sheriff's officials executed a search warrant at Varner's residence in Jackson County on Thursday, May 12 and seized the computer equipment Varner apparently used to communicate with underage females. Varner is charged with enticing a child for indecent purposes and sexual exploitation of a child. Both are felonies in Georgia.
Guthas also said that this case, as well as others Barrow County has investigated involving online predators, should serve as a warning to parents to closely monitor their children's online activity.
Tuesday
November 26th, 2024
1:55AM
