Cobb County police charged Travis Richard Puckett with child grooming and sexual exploitation after he allegedly targeted a teenager over five months.

Puckett attempted multiple times to have sex with the victim in exchange for money, according to the arrest warrant, as first reported by WSB-TV. Investigators said he communicated with the teen through text messages during the alleged grooming period.

How Puckett met the victim is unclear, WSB-TV reported. Police have not said.

The charges come months after Georgia's new grooming law took effect. Gov. Brian Kemp signed House Bill 993, which made grooming a minor for sex a felony punishable by one to five years in prison. The law covers grooming conducted in person or through electronic devices and social media. It took effect July 1, 2026.

Susan Norris, founder and executive director of Rescuing Hope, a Georgia nonprofit that combats sex trafficking, said predators routinely use social media to study potential victims before making contact.

"They spend time studying their social media platforms so they can talk about the things that they already know are important to your child," Norris told WSB-TV.

Norris is a member of the Georgia State Human Trafficking Task Force and a credentialed victims advocate. She said some predators create fake profiles using photos of people close in age to the child they are targeting. She urged parents to have open conversations with their children about online safety and to monitor what personal information children share publicly.

Rescuing Hope has released digital training for law enforcement and provides education aimed at helping communities recognize exploitation.

The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) received 1.4 million online-enticement reports in 2025. NCMEC said those reports rose 158% from 2024 to 2025, though the organization noted the increase was partly driven by the 2024 REPORT Act, which expanded reporting requirements for electronic service providers.

No court date or bond information for Puckett has been reported. Residents who suspect exploitation can contact the Cobb County Police Department or the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888.