Sex Offender arrested after allegedly offering children pizza at LES

A Stephens County Sheriff’s Office School Resource Officer was recently notified by staff at Liberty Elementary School that a man was seen on the school property offering children on the playground pizza over the fenced area.

According to Stephens County Sheriff Randy Shirley, the resource officer was able to locate the male subject, identified as Joseph Otto Phelps, 54, of Toccoa, at a residence near the school.

The resource officer conducted a check through the state data base on Phelps and learned that Phelps is a convicted sex offender.

At that time, the school resource officer contacted an investigator, and an investigation was opened.

Investigators interviewed Phelps and found that he was in violation of the sex offender registry on two accounts involving issues with his registration.

Phelps was arrested and charged with violation of the sex offender registry and loitering on school property.

He is currently being held at the Stephens County Jail awaiting a bond hearing.