ST. MARYS, Ga.-- A Camden County teen is in jail after police say he tried to entice a child for indecent purposes.
According to the Camden County Sheriff's Office, 17-year-old Dennis Sheppard went door-to-door offering yard work to neighbors at Point Peter Landing, Specifically targeting the home of a 10-year-old boy multiple times where, police say, he also solicited something else.
"He was trying to do something highly improper and illegal. Let's just put it that way," said William Terrell, spokesman for the Camden County Sheriff's Office.
The boy told his parents who called police and Sheppard was taken into custody.
Action News tracked down Sheppard 's mom, Linda Richards. She insists her son is innocent.
"He doesn't have the mentality or the evil streak to do something like that," said Richards.
Richards says Sheppard was much like a boy himself. He was homeschooled most of his life and still plays with toys.
"How many 17-year-olds do you know that come and play in the yard with Hot Wheels," she said.
As for the family at Point Peter Landing, police say they did the right thing.
"Parents should be suspicious. They were just doing what parents do," said Terrell.
Sheppard is being held at the Camden County jail. He is being tried as an adult.
