A Southaven man accused of engaging in inappropriate conduct with a child on the Mississippi Gulf Coast is behind bars.
Jackson County Sheriff John Ledbetter said Justin Giles, 38, is into custody. The suspect was arrested in DeSoto County on April 21 on a child grooming charge.
Giles’ arrest, per Ledbetter, stems from a report made on March 8. While investigating the case, prosecutors said it was discovered that Giles had built a relationship with a Vancleave child online. The nature of the relationship was nefarious, as is evidenced by the grooming charge.
Giles was transported to the Jackson County Adult Detention Center on April 24. He made his initial court appearance on Monday, where his bail was set at $250,000. However, a judge revoked his bond on a prior charge for grand larceny in DeSoto County.
Grooming, defined as when an adult coerces children into engaging in sexually explicit behavior, is now a felony offense in Mississippi, courtesy of a bill passed by the state legislature and signed into law by Gov. Tate Reeves last year. Under the law, perpetrators found guilty of grooming could face between two and 10 years in prison, along with a possible fine of up to $10,000.
