A Georgia deputy, Osiel Mendoza Guevara, was arrested in Alabama.
A criminal charge of luring a kid for immoral purposes had led to the arrest of Guevera, who is 20 years old and works as a deputy for the Rockdale County Sheriff's Office.
On January 24, authorities in Pleasant Grove placed the Georgia deputy under arrest. The detectives were under the impression that Guevara flew from Georgia to Alabama to meet with the victim, a young woman under the age of 16.
Georgia deputy arrested in Alabama
Alabama News reported that the arrest was made after an investigation by the Pleasant Grove police department, which suspected that Guevara met the minor through the online gaming platform Roblox.
Guevara's lawyer, Victor Revill, released a statement saying that his client was innocent until proven guilty and looks forward to his day in court. Guevara was booked into the Jefferson County jail on January 25 but was released the same day after posting a $15,000 bond.
Guevara began working as a jailor at the Rockdale County Sheriff's Office in November 2021 and was promoted to deputy sheriff the following year.
According to 11 Alive, his work status is currently listed as "actively employed." However, when asked about Guevara's current employment status, officials from the Rockdale County Sheriff's Office said his case is still under investigation.
Both Jefferson County law enforcement and the Rockdale County Sheriff's Office are conducting separate investigations into the matter.
Since it is still under investigation, the police officers did not reveal much information as to how the Georgia deputy enticed the minor he met online.
How can parents protect their children in cyberspace?
In light of recent events, investigators are urging parents to keep a close watch on their children's activities on online gaming platforms, as they warn that even seemingly harmless activities can hide malicious intent.
To address this issue, according to WBRC, Liz Repking of Cyber Safety Consulting stresses the importance of early conversations between parents and children about online safety, emphasizing that this should be an ongoing conversation rather than a one-time event.
Repking advises parents to create a safe and non-defensive environment for these conversations.
She suggests that parents consider using third-party parental software on their children's devices to manage better and monitor their online activities.
These software programs can flag inappropriate content, sexual language, and words commonly used by predators or for drug use.
Once such keywords are detected, the software will immediately alert the parents, allowing them to intervene and stop any potentially harmful conversations.
Regarding the recent case of the Georgia deputy arrested in Alabama, charged with enticing a minor for immoral purposes, his lawyer has stated that Guevara looks forward to his day in court.
The police department is working with the FBI on the investigation and is diligent in its efforts, given the sensitive nature of the case.
