A Republican candidate for Georgia House District 42 is facing a felony charge after Smyrna police said he exposed himself to a child walking to her bus stop earlier this month, according to FOX 5 Atlanta. Andre Lamar Stafford was identified through a license plate reader camera and later picked out of a photo lineup by the young victim, according to an arrest warrant. A judge denied him bond, ruling he poses a danger to the community, though jail records show he has since been released.
What the Warrant Describes
According to FOX 5 Atlanta, the incident happened between 8:22 a.m. and 8:27 a.m. on October 15 near Lakes Edge Drive SE and Hillsdale Parkway in Cobb County, as a girl walked to her bus stop. Police said a driver pulled up beside the child, told her she was pretty, exposed himself, and then drove away, per the arrest warrant.
Investigators said crime analysts reviewed footage from a Flock license plate reader camera at the nearby Hillsdale apartment complex, which recorded a gray 2024 Kia Forte entering the area at 8:11 a.m. That vehicle record led investigators to Stafford as the registered owner, according to the warrant. Detectives then conducted a photo lineup using Stafford's driver's license picture, and the victim positively identified him as the driver.
Bond Denied, Then an Early Release
Judge Quinn M. Kasper denied Stafford bond in Cobb County Magistrate Court, ruling that he poses a community danger. Despite that ruling, jail records later showed Stafford was released from the Cobb County Jail, as reported by FOX 5 Atlanta. The station's report, which drew on court documents signed by the judge along with warrant statements, does not clarify the circumstances surrounding his release.
Officials have not disclosed whether Stafford has retained legal representation, and the status of the case moving through the court system remains unclear based on available records.
A Contested District 42 Race
Stafford is running as a Republican against incumbent Representative Gabriel Sanchez, a Democrat, for District 42, a seat that covers parts of Cobb County including Smyrna, as noted by FOX 5 Atlanta. Georgia's House District 42 primary is listed for May 19, 2026, with the general election set for November 3, 2026, according to BallotReady.
Speaking to FOX 5 Atlanta, Stafford maintained his innocence and said he intends to stay in the race. “I have no reason to drop out, I am innocent,” he told the outlet. The arrest has not changed his stated plans to continue campaigning for the seat.
