CANTON, GA — A registered sex offender has been sentenced to prison after being accused of trying to exploit a teen that he met online.
Thanks to the help of a grandmother in Georgia, the Cherokee County District Attorney’s Office says Gary Evans has been arrested and charged by authorities in North Carolina.
The woman called the Canton Police Department, saying her granddaughter’s 14-year-old friend was communicating with a man online and said he was planning to come meet her in person.
“The grandmother who reported her concerns is an absolute hero. She trusted her instincts, spoke up, and prevented an adult from exploiting a child,” said Assistant District Attorney David Bailey, of the Special Victims Unit, Office of the District Attorney. “Her courage protected this victim and allowed law enforcement to intervene before further harm occurred. Her willingness to act made a profound difference in a child’s life.”
Law enforcement agencies in several states helped Canton authorities during the investigation.
Evans has sexual abuse convictions dating back to 2004, according to officials.
He has been sentenced to 25 years in prison followed by life on probation, according to officials.