Andre Stafford (Credit: Cobb County Sheriff’s Office)
COBB COUNTY, Ga. – A Smyrna man running to represent Georgia House District 42 faces a felony charge after authorities said he exposed himself to a child walking to her bus stop on Oct. 15.
What we know:
Judge Quinn M. Kasper denied bond for Andre Lamar Stafford in Cobb County Magistrate Court, ruling that he poses a community danger.
Stafford is running as a Republican against current Representative Gabriel Sanchez (D) for District 42, which covers parts of Cobb County including Smyrna.
According to a Cobb County arrest warrant, a girl was walking to her bus stop near Lakes Edge Drive SE and Hillsdale Parkway between 8:22 a.m. and 8:27 a.m. when a driver pulled up beside her.
Police said the man told the child she was pretty and exposed himself before driving away.
Crime analysts reviewed traffic using a Flock license plate reader camera positioned at a nearby apartment complex, the warrant states.
The system recorded a gray 2024 Kia Forte entering the area at 8:11 a.m., which led investigators to Stafford as the registered owner.
After identifying Stafford as the registered owner, investigators conducted a photo lineup using his driver’s license picture, where the victim positively identified him as the driver.
He was later released from the Cobb County Jail, according to jail records.
When reached by phone, Stafford confirmed to FOX 5 Atlanta he was arrested on the allegations, but had no further comment on the arrest.
When asked if he was planning to drop out of the race, Stafford replied, “I have no reason to drop out, I am innocent.”
What we don’t know:
Officials have also not disclosed whether he has retained legal representation.
The Source: The information in this story was gathered from court documents signed by Cobb County Magistrate Court Judge Quinn M. Kasper and warrant statements. Additional information comes from a phone call with Andre Stafford.