Cobb County District Attorney Sonya F. Allen has announced that Patrick Nalley, 47, has pled guilty to charges of obscene internet contact with a minor and criminal attempt to commit aggravated child molestation. Superior Court Judge Sonja N. Brown sentenced Nalley to 10 years, with two years in prison. He is also required to register as a sex offender and adhere to probation conditions.
Nalley's arrest occurred in August 2023 during an undercover sting operation by the Cobb County Police Department Special Victims Unit. The defendant engaged online with an officer posing as a 14-year-old girl through social media and messaging apps.
Plans were made by Nalley to meet the supposed child on August 15, 2023. Upon arrival at the meeting location, he was arrested. The communications between Nalley and the undercover officers contained sexually explicit content describing inappropriate acts he intended to perform, despite being informed repeatedly of the girl's age.
Following this incident, Nalley faced similar charges after being arrested by the City of Roswell Police due to another undercover investigation within their jurisdiction.
District Attorney Sonya F. Allen stated: “We take these types of crimes very seriously and are committed to ensuring that those who seek to exploit children are held accountable.” She commended the Cobb County Police Department’s Special Victims Unit for their swift actions which ensured "this defendant will no longer be a threat to our community."
The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Kristen Judd and Lindsay Raynor for the state, while Ashleigh Bartkus Merchant represented Nalley.