While investigating an alleged armed robbery of a softball umpire, detectives with the Cherokee Sheriff’s Office discovered the umpire was a registered sex offender and was in violation of the Georgia Sex Offender Registry Act...
While investigating an alleged armed robbery of a softball umpire, detectives with the Cherokee Sheriff’s Office discovered the umpire was a registered sex offender and was in violation of the Georgia Sex Offender Registry Act.
Gerald Stephens, 48 years of age, called 911 on June 28th and reported he had been robbed by 3 men with guns at the South Cherokee Recreation Association (SCRA) ball fields in Woodstock where he was umpiring girl’s softball games. Stephens, who is employed by Global Sports Association, claimed he had just been to the bank to get money to pay the other umpires when three men approached him in the parking lot, tied his hands together, and stole the money before running into the woods.
After detectives discovered Stephens was a sex offender they contacted Douglas and Paulding County authorities. Stephens was registered as living in Douglas County but he had told investigators he lived in Paulding County. Stephens has been charged with violating the Sex Offender Registry by the Paulding County Sheriff’s Office and is currently in their custody. Cherokee detectives have charged Stephens with Violation of the Sex Offender Registry and False Statements.
Although the robbery is still under investigation, Stephen’s account of the incident has changed and there were no witnesses to the event.