ABINGDON, Va. (WCYB) — An Abingdon man was arrested after the Washington County Sheriff’s Office received a call from Predator Poachers, an online predator group.
The Washington County Sheriff’s Office says that deputies responded to a residence on Carousel Road in Abingdon after a member of Predator Poachers reported they were with a male who had allegedly allegedly been communicating online with an individual he believed to be a 13-year-old female.
Deputies say once arriving on scene they detained Marc Gardener, who then agreed to speak with Washington County detectives.
During the Washington County Sheriff’s Office’s independent investigation, authorities say, Garden made admissions admissions related to offenses involving the use of a communications system to facilitate certain offenses involving children, taking indecent liberties with children, and violations of registration requirements for individuals listed on the Virginia Sex Offender Registry.
Gardener was charged with Use of communications systems to facilitate certain offenses involving children, Taking indecent liberties with children, and seven counts of Providing false information or failing to provide registration information.
Gardener is being held at the Southwest Virginia Regional Jail without bond. The investigation remains ongoing.
