Georgia – According to Georgia’s Attorney General Chris Carr, a man from Hart County has been found guilty of serious crimes, including trafficking a teenage girl. The 26-year-old Reed Cohen Skelton from Bowersville utilized apps like Snapchat to talk to the 16-year-old victim. This escalated to months of texts back and forth until he took her to a hotel for exploitation.
Carr pointed out how unsafe the internet can be for youngsters. He stated that traffickers often hang out on sites like Snapchat and even games like Roblox, looking for their next victim.
“This is the disturbing reality that we’re seeing online, where traffickers are targeting our children for abuse and exploitation,” said Carr.
“Whether it’s Snapchat or Roblox or any other app, child predators will find a way to communicate with their next victim, and we’re doing everything in our power to stop them. Our team is on the ground leading this fight, and we won’t rest until every child is safe and every trafficker is brought to justice.”
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The story came to light when Skelton started talking to the girl online. He maintained talking to her for a time, even though he knew she was young. He asked for and sent her illicit pictures and videos. Then, in November 2024, he drove to Cobb County to see her in person. He then transported her to a hotel in Fulton County, where he booked a room and gave her $500 after engaging in s*x acts. He also recorded the encounter on his device.
Different police departments worked together to establish the case against him. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s Human Exploitation and Trafficking Unit spearheaded the investigation. The Cobb County Police Department and the Attorney General’s own unit also helped. The Gainesville Police, Hart County Sheriff’s Office, Hall County Sheriff’s Office, Fulton County Sheriff’s Office, and Georgia State Patrol all helped out.
Kaitlyn Salinas, a former assistant attorney general, and Claire Anderson from the Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit were in charge of the prosecution. Skelton admitted guilt on February 12, 2026, thanks to their hard work.
He pleaded guilty to two counts of trafficking people for s*xual servitude and one count of s*xually exploiting a minor. The judge sentenced him to 25 years in prison. He will spend the first 10 years in prison and then be on probation with strict regulations. He also has to register as a s*x offender. Skelton gave up his nursing license as part of the deal. He had worked in an ICU before this.
This conviction highlights the ongoing battle against online predators who prey on vulnerable teens. Authorities hope it sends a strong message to others thinking about similar crimes.
