Suspect admits abduction plot

Held children on his golf cart, kept child pornography in his home

By JOHN MUNFORD
jmunford@TheCitizenNews.com

Peachtree City Police foiled a potential child abduction Monday afternoon by arresting a man near Oak Grove Elementary School who police believe held two boys against their will on a golf cart Sunday.

Andrew Joseph Magnuson, 22, of Peachtree City admitted to police that he had planned to abduct a child just before he was arrested, said Maj. Mike DuPree of the Peachtree City Police Department. Magnuson also admitted that he attempted to lure the two 10-year-old boys into his home Sunday, DuPree indicated. Instead, Magnuson dropped the boys off near one of their homes, police said.

Magnuson was charged with attempted kidnapping, enticing a child for indecent purposes, possession of child pornography, possession of tools to commit a crime and loitering. He remains in the Fayette County Jail after waiving a bond hearing that had been scheduled for Wednesday afternoon.

Magnuson was spotted at Rock Spray Pond Monday by police in a bright blue golf cart that matched the description of the cart given by the two boys from Sunday's incident, DuPree said.

"The children were able to give a very good description of the golf cart," DuPree said, saying the children called it a distinct bright blue color. "We were really pleased with that."

The department had saturated the school area with officers Monday after learning of the abduction that took place at Braelinn Ponds Sunday, DuPree noted.

"The Sunday incident gave us a bit more information," DuPree said. "So on Monday, we were watching the schools very closely."

At the time of his arrest, Magnuson had duct tape, a rope, bungee cords, a knife and other items in his possession that could have been used to kidnap someone, according to an arrest warrant.

The two boys were "held against their will" on the golf cart for an hour Sunday after Magnuson saw them at Braelinn Ponds and offered to take them home, according to an arrest warrant.

Magnuson told police he didn't follow through on his intentions Sunday because "he got scared," DuPree said.

The boys were eventually let out of the golf cart near one of their homes, DuPree said. But during the previous hour, Magnuson drove the cart around Lake Peachtree and "described explicit sexual acts" to the children, according to a warrant for Magnuson's arrest.

A search of Magnuson's residence turned up photos of children from child pornography websites, according to an arrest warrant.

Police also believe Magnuson had been near Oak Grove Elementary Thursday, attempting to solicit children for assistance in locating a missing person. Magnuson approached children and parents in the area with a copy of a missing persons report that he got off the Internet, police said.

A school crossing guard approached Magnuson at the time, although it is not clear when he left the area, DuPree said.

Police were notified of that incident, but they were unsure if the same person had been involved in Sunday's incident until Magnuson was arrested Monday afternoon, DuPree said.

"Once he was taken into custody, we were able to put the puzzle pieces together," DuPree said.

Magnuson has been living in Peachtree City for two months after moving here from Illinois, DuPree said.

The investigation is continuing as police check leads with other law enforcement agencies, DuPree added.

"We are more concerned with what could have happened in other jurisdictions outside the state of Georgia," DuPree said.

Magnuson's apprehension came approximately one hour before school let out, DuPree said.

"It could have been devastating to this community," he added.

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