CHEROKEE COUNTY, Ga. — One of the two men arrested in the Cherokee Sheriff's Office underage online sex investigation committed suicide, according to Cherokee authorities.
Authorities confirm 38-year-old Brent Parton committed suicide on Monday after he was released on bond.
Parton was from Canon, Georgia and was at the center of a four-week-long undercover investigation.
He thought he was talking with a 12-year-old girl over the Internet when, in reality, he was also talking to undercover agents.
After authorities secured the proper warrants, they arrested Parton during a traffic stop on Knox Bridge Highway.
Director Jay Baker said Parton was charged with two counts of Obscene Internet Contact with Children and Sexual Exploitation of Children back in February.
Parton was a recreation league basketball referee with the Cherokee County Parks and Recreations center, however the recreation center contracts referees through a private company, according to Baker.
"It's my understanding he was a referee for that organization and did pass a background check for that position," wrote Baker.
