Police: Man, 25, Arranged To Meet Teen For Sex

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Canton, GA -- The Canton Police Department has charged a 25-year-old man with allegedly trying to arrange a sexual encounter with an underage victim.

Detectives arrested Roswell resident Joshua Morgan Howlett and charged him with aggravated child molestation, criminal attempt to commit child molestation, criminal attempt to commit statutory rape, enticing a child for indecent purposes and sodomy, the agency said Wednesday.

Investigators were contacted Jan. 4 by their counterparts at the Plainview Police Department in Connecticut regarding an incident of child molestation “that recently occurred” within the city limits, Canton police said.

Those detectives over the last week were able to establish a rapport with the previously unnamed suspect through text messages while posing as a victim in their early teens.

Detectives were able to establish an arranged meeting with the suspect ”who was set to travel to a predetermined area in the city with the pretense of making additional sexual contact with the victim in this case,” Canton police said in its news release.

The suspect drove to the pre-arranged meeting location and was subsequently arrested by detectives who were waiting in the area. When questioned by detectives, Canton police said Howlett admitted to his involvement in the case.

Canton Police Chief Mark Mitchell praised the work of the investigators to crack the case.

“I am extremely grateful for the hard work and efforts of our detectives in this case,” he said. “Their diligence ensured the arrest of this individual, which brings resolution to this criminal act and further our efforts to improve the quality of life and safety for the children in our community.”

Howlett was booked into the Cherokee County Adult Detention Center around 7:20 p.m. Jan. 12 and remains in custody.

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Photo: Joshua Morgan Howlett. Credit: Cherokee County Jail