Cherokee County man gets 10 years in prison in child sex case

A Cherokee County man received a 10-year prison sentence in a federal child-sex case.

A Cherokee County man received a 10-year prison sentence in a federal child-sex case.

A 48-year-old Cherokee County man was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison after he planned a sexual encounter with someone he thought was an adolescent girl, prosecutors said.

Federal officials also said Jeffrey E. Roberts of Woodstock had a laptop that contained child pornography.

“Through their constant vigilance, our federal and state law enforcement partners have stopped yet another individual who attempted to prey on a minor through the internet,” U.S. Attorney “BJay” Pak said.

Officials began investigating Roberts on April 20, 2017, when he responded to a Craigslist ad.

Roberts told an undercover agent he had experience with sexual encounters with children, and he made plans to meet the so-called adolescent, according to Pak.

On May 4, 2017, Roberts went to to meet what he thought was a minor girl for a planned sexual encounter, officials said. Roberts’ laptop computer was seized when he was arrested, and it contained child pornography.

The GBI helped investigate the case.

Roberts pleaded guilty to attempted enticement of a minor and possession of child pornography Feb. 14. He also was sentenced March 16 to 10 years of probation, which will begin after he serves his prison sentence.

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