Macon man accused of child molestation caught in Twiggs County

An Internet dragnet for suspected sexual predators ensnared a 28-year-old Macon man thanks to a Twiggs County traffic stop.

John Allen Fortney was wanted for aggravated child molestation and other charges in a Hall County undercover investigation when he was stopped for driving too fast in a Twiggs County construction zone.

Monday, Twiggs Sgt. Jeremy Johnson stopped Fortney on Interstate 16 and smelled burned marijuana coming from his car, according to a news release from the Twiggs County Sheriff’s Office.

A computer check revealed Johnson was wanted for allegedly trying to entice a 14-year-old over the Internet, but it was an undercover officer posing as a juvenile.

“Fortney took substantial steps to commit immoral and indecent acts to whom he believed to be a 14-year-old female. Additionally, Fortney provided lewd images of himself via a social media app,” the release stated.

According to the Twiggs County Sheriff’s Office, Hall County’s criminal investigation began Aug. 9.

Through social media, Fortney agreed to meet the “girl” at a pre-arranged location in Hall County on Aug. 11.

When Fortney failed to show, investigators secured warrants for his arrest on charges of aggravated child molestation, electronic enticement of a child and obscene Internet contact with a child.

Twiggs deputies also found a small bit of marijuana in his vehicle and charged him with possession as well.

Twiggs County cited him for speeding in a construction site, seat belt violation, following too closely and not having his license.

Deputies confiscated Fortney’s electronic devices for Hall County’s investigators.

Tuesday, Fortney was turned over to Hall County authorities where he was being held without bond.

To contact writer Liz Fabian, call 744-4303 and follow her on Twitter@liz_lines.

This story was originally published August 21, 2015 at 10:57 PM with the headline "Macon man accused of child molestation caught in Twiggs County ."