Sex Offender, 71, Arrested After Trying To Lure Girl, 11, At Bus Stop: Police

ROSWELL, GA — The Roswell Police Department has arrested a 71-year-old sex offender.

William Howard tried to lure an 11-year-old girl into his car when she got off the school bus, police said Friday. He was arrested on charges of indecent purposes, police said.

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

The investigation started on Feb. 16, police said, after a parent reported that Howard offered her a daughter a ride home in their mutual neighborhood of Warm Springs Circle. He didn’t have a previous relationship with the girl, police said.

The mother researched the sex offender website, found Howard and notified Roswell police about the encounter.

Police said they found probable cause to arrest Howard. He was arrested on March 1 and charged with one count of 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.