Bartow Co. mayor accused of chatting up minor

BARTOW COUNTY, Ga.,None — The mayor of a small town in Bartow County was arrested after an Internet sting operation by the FBI Thursday.

Agents arrested Cary Rhodes, 57, when he allegedly tried to meet a minor to have sex. Instead he was met by FBI agents and members of the Northwest Georgia Child Safe Task Force.

An FBI spokesman said Rhodes, a self-employed engineer, caught the attention of undercover officers by his activities on the internet.

Channel 2’s Tom Regan spoke to residents of Taylorsville about the accusation against the mayor.

“I’m just stunned. He’s a pilot who flies his plane all the time. I’ve had conversations with his wife. I’m just flabbergasted. I don’t know any other way to put it,” Mickey Patterson said.

Another resident said Rhodes should resign from office.

“I think he better find something else to do, other than being a city official,” James Dean said.

Rhodes is facing state charges of attempted aggravated child molestation and violation of the computer pornography and child exploitation act, the FBI said.

WSBTV