A 41-year-old Anderson man has been arrested in Georgia, where deputies say he traveled after communicating online with a child.
The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office in Georgia said deputies arrested Jefferson Stanly Piekarski on Monday morning, Oct. 12, following an investigation into online solicitation of a minor.
What investigators say
According to the sheriff’s office, Piekarski drove from South Carolina to Georgia intending to meet a child for illegal sexual activity. Deputies say they stepped in and arrested him before any physical harm occurred.
Officials have not said where the arrest happened, how investigators first learned about the online messages, or the age of the child.
Charges
Piekarski faces several felony charges in Georgia, including:
- Enticing a child for indecent purposes
- Obscene internet contact with a child
- Criminal attempt to commit child molestation
- Criminal attempt to commit aggravated child molestation
- Criminal attempt to commit sodomy
Authorities have not said whether he faces any charges in South Carolina. The investigation is ongoing.
Piekarski is presumed innocent unless and until he is proven guilty in court.
Keeping kids safe online
Parents can help protect children by knowing which apps and games they use, keeping devices in shared spaces, and talking with kids about never meeting someone they only know online. Suspected online exploitation of a child can be reported to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children’s CyberTipline at 1-800-843-5678 or report.cybertip.org.
Source: Jackson County (Ga.) Sheriff’s Office, as reported by FOX 5 Atlanta
