A Whitfield County school bus monitor was arrested at her home Thursday after investigators say she tried to connect a juvenile with an adult man and later gave the child a pregnancy test rather than reporting suspected abuse. Maria Susanne Roberts now faces charges of enticing a child for indecent purposes and failing to report suspected child abuse, according to the Whitfield County Sheriff's Office.
Roberts worked as a school bus monitor when the alleged actions took place, as reported by newschannel9.com. The outlet reports that deputies arrested her at her home after investigators obtained a warrant, following a Special Victims Unit investigation into allegations involving a minor.
Allegations Detail Attempt to Connect Child With Adult Man
Investigators allege Roberts tried to connect a juvenile with an adult man by giving the child the man's contact information. The same report notes that after Roberts was told the child may have become pregnant as a result of abuse, she gave the juvenile a pregnancy test rather than alerting authorities, as outlined by the sheriff's office.
It remains unclear whether the child was in fact pregnant, as the sheriff's office only said the child may have become pregnant as a result of abuse. Reporting from Atlanta News First confirms Roberts was booked into the Whitfield County Jail following her arrest.
Charges and What Comes Next
Roberts is charged with enticing a child for indecent purposes and failing to report suspected child abuse, according to the same account from the sheriff's office. She is currently being held in the Whitfield County Jail, per the same account.
Georgia lawmakers passed legislation this year enacting O.C.G.A. Section 16-6-5.2, according to a summary of statutes from the Georgia General Assembly, though further detail on the statute's text or application to this case was not available. Atlanta News First has indicated the story is developing and that updates would follow.
