Just as Richard Hayes was downloading hundreds of child sex images to his computer, police entered his McDonough home and arrested him Monday during a search, Henry County police spokesman Capt. Joey Smith said.
Hayes, 47, an IT specialist who works from home, was charged with aggravated child molestation and two counts of child molestation after police say he used two fake online profiles to lure children to give him sexual images and engage in sexual activity.
Allegations first surfaced after a 15-year-old girl told her parents that Hayes had unwanted sexual contact with her in Tybee Island, Channel 2 Action News reported. The girl’s parents were worried when her behavior changed and asked her what happened.
Hayes allegedly posed as a teen on Facebook and Instagram to talk to teen girls, the news station reported. There is no evidence that Hayes created child pornography, Smith told the news station.
Smith warned there could be more victims.
“He has access to a lot of potential victims,” Smith said. “We just hope that there’s not any(more).”
Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective A. Mellon at 770-288-8473.
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