Convicted sex offender back in Cobb County jail, accused of loitering near two schools

COBB COUNTY, Ga. – A convicted sex offender is back in prison after parents and teachers contacted school police and other authorities because they suspected a sex offender might be living near two schools.

William Howard was convicted in Florida in 2011 of a crime against a minor.

Howard ended up in prison again in 2022 after police said he allegedly tried to lure an 11-year-old girl into his car as she got off a school bus.

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Howard is registered as a sex offender in Fulton County, but some parents and teachers alerted police that Howard may live near two schools in Cobb County.

The Cobb County School District Police, Cobb County Sheriff's Office and GBI received tips about the incident.

According to court records, Howard stayed overnight at a relative's house in Cobb County 29 times over the summer.

Investigators said they tracked Howard's whereabouts through the ankle monitor system.

Police say the home Howard was tracked to is near McClure Middle School and Bullard Elementary School.

Police arrested Howard on Friday and charged him with a felony.

Neighbors are shocked to learn of Howard's whereabouts and arrest, but are glad that parents and teachers notified authorities.

“I'm very glad they did this because that's why a lot of criminals get away with it because people look the other way. As a teacher for 35 years and knowing the children, I'm very worried about them,” said Sandy Arroyo, who lives near both schools and is a retired teacher. Michele Newell, Channel 2 Cobb County Bureau Chief.

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“It is a crime for a sex offender not to live in the place where they are registered. But it is even more serious because the property line of the place where this person was staying is adjacent to a middle and elementary school,” said Lt. Col. Arthur Peralta of the Cobb County Sheriff's Office.

A spokesperson for the Cobb County School District issued the following statement: “Every day, at every school, our administration and police immediately begin investigating when we learn of a safety concern. The safety of students at McClure and Bullard was due to the well-trained staff who fight to keep children safe every day. We encourage parents, staff or students to report safety concerns by calling, texting or emailing the district's hotline and to visit Cobb Shield to learn more about the steps the district is taking to ensure campus safety.”

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