MCSO arrests man who tried to meet 8-year-old girl for ‘malicious purposes’

MUSCOGEE COUNTY, Georgia (WRBL) – The Muscogee County Sheriff’s Office says a man was arrested after trying to meet a girl in Muscogee County and said they “won’t stop until this deplorable criminal behavior stops” .

The Sheriff’s Office Sex Offender Task Force and Special Operations Unit arrested Royce Smith who MCSO said attempted to meet an 8-year-old girl. Undercover investigators posed as the juvenile and spoke with Smith by phone and on the Internet.

MCSO said Smith arranged to meet the little girl for “nefarious purposes” and investigators arrested him.

Law enforcement took Smith to the Lee County Jail and charged him with:

• Inciting a child to indecent purposes
• Possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime