Sex offender arrested after police said he tried to lure 11-year-old girl at Roswell bus stop

ROSWELL, Ga. — A 71-year-old sex offender in Roswell has been arrested after police said he tried to lure an 11-year-old girl into his car when she got off the school bus.

William Howard was arrested on charges of enticing a child for indecent purposes.

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Police said Howard is a registered sex offender from Florida who was previously convicted in 2011 of lewd or lascivious molestation of a victim 12 - 15 years old.

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Police said they started to investigate the incident on Feb. 16 after a parent reported that Howard offered to give her daughter a ride to her home within their mutual neighborhood of Warm Springs Circle. Howard had no previous relationship with the child.

The victim’s mother researched the sex offender registry, located Howard and called the Roswell Police Department.

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Police found probable cause to arrest Howard, who was taken into custody on March 1. He’s been charged with one count of enticing a child for indecent purposes.

“The quick thinking and decisive action of this parent is a model for all of us, and demonstrates well the necessary partnership between our community and the police in protecting our most vulnerable population: our children”, said Police Chief James Conroy.

Anyone with additional information about this case is asked to contact Detective C. Dickerson at cdickerson@roswellgov.com, or (770)640-4453. Anonymous information can be provided through Crime Stoppers Atlanta at 404-577-TIPS(8477) or online at www.StopCrimeATL.org.

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