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A youth sports referee busted last month in Georgia during an underage sex sting took his own life after he was released from jail on bond, authorities said.<\/p>\n
Brent Lawrence Parton, 38, of Canton, was charged with sexual exploitation of children and obscene internet contact after a four-week investigation by the Cherokee County Sheriff\u2019s Office during which he allegedly thought he was chatting with a 12-year-old girl who turned out to be an undercover investigator, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports<\/a>.<\/p>\n Parton, who worked as a basketball referee for a county youth league, died Monday of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound at his home following his release from a county jail after posting $10,500 bond on Feb. 28, sheriff spokesman Jay Baker told the newspaper.<\/p>\n Parton also served as an umpire and district director for Dizzy Dean Baseball in Georgia for years, WSB-TV reports<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cMy first thing is, you never know what people do in their private lives,\u201d the amateur league\u2019s national director, Chris Landry, told the station. \u201cI\u2019m in total shock. I just couldn\u2019t believe it.\u201d<\/p>\n Parton was arrested while on his way to officiate a basketball game at an elementary school in Canton, according to the station.<\/p>\n Parton was removed from his role in the baseball league following his arrest. He had passed a background check as recently as January, Landry said.<\/p>\n \u201cIf he\u2019s guilty, I\u2019m glad he got caught because I can\u2019t imagine what I would do if it was my granddaughter,\u201d Landry said.<\/p>\n The director of the county\u2019s Parks and Recreation Department told WSB-TV that Parton, who was not a county employee, would also be banned from officiating its games in the aftermath of the criminal charges.<\/p>\n Funeral services for Parton will be held Saturday at Sardis Baptist Church in Canton, according to his obituary<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cBrent enjoyed coaching football, baseball, and wrestling,\u201d his obituary continued. \u201cHe was a good friend and would do anything for anyone. Brent was always taking care of family and especially loved spending time with his nieces and nephew.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n