Convicted sex offender arrested

— Sonny Turner

July 08, 2008 11:24 am

— Athens police arrested a convicted sex offender Monday who investigators said was at the Athens Lions Club Kiddie Carnival Saturday night, across from Athens Middle School.
Robert Lee Cook, 43, of 408 Hoffman St., was arrested Monday and charged with two counts of violating the Community Notification Act. Cook was transferred to the Limestone County Jail, where he was being held Tuesday without bond.
Capt. Marty Bruce said Cook was convicted in 1996 of second-degree rape and second-degree sodomy.
Bruce said Cook was recognized as a convicted sex offender while he was at the Kiddie Carnival with his wife and child. He said a member of the Lions Club called immediately to report Cook.
Officers responded and determined Cook was living on Hoffman Street and had failed to register with the Athens Police Department.
Cook is charged with failing to register as a convicted sex offender and with being a sex offender living within 2,000 feet of a school.