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Sex trafficking charge dropped for north Forsyth man
Matthew Lee Humphries
Matthew Lee Humphries

After several weeks behind bars, a north Forsyth man has been released from custody and cleared of a sex trafficking charge that occurred after a missing 16-year-old metro Atlanta female was found by Forsyth County detectives at his residence in late May.

Matthew Lee Humphries, 31, of Forsyth County was released from the Forsyth County Jail Tuesday on a bond of $2,020 after a charge of felony trafficking in sexual servitude was withdrawn by the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office.

According to Assistant District Attorney Sandra Partridge, after the incident was investigated, the charge was withdrawn due to a lack of evidence necessary to prosecute the case.

"There was probable cause to arrest, but upon further investigation it was determined that it could not be proven, so the warrant was withdrawn," Partridge said.

Humphries was initially arrested on May 19, 2018, after the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call concerning a juvenile at his north Forsyth residence, according to a news release by Cpl. Doug Rainwater, spokesman for the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office.

“Once our deputies arrived, the juvenile was interviewed and alert deputies began to suspect this could be a child sex trafficking case,” Rainwater said in the release.

Rainwater said that Humphries traveled to the metro Atlanta area to pick up the 16-year-old after the two met online. He added that the victim lived at Humphries’ north Forsyth residence for seven days before she was located by Forsyth County detectives.

During the search of his residence, Humphries was charged with trafficking in sexual servitude, interference with child custody and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Rainwater said that of those charges Humphries will still be charged with interference with child custody and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

Previously Humphries had been arrested by the Atlanta Police Department on May 5, after he allegedly pointed a loaded 9mm handgun at an off-duty College Park police officer and a retired Atlanta police officer while in traffic.

Humphries’ arrest report from May 5 states that he was allegedly seen weaving through traffic on 17th Street near I-75/85 in a yellow Chevrolet Camaro, “switching lanes rapidly” and cutting off other vehicles.

The report states that the off-duty and retired officers approached Humphries’ vehicle when it reached a stop to ask him if everything was OK. Humphries then allegedly pointed the pistol at them and said, “I’m white f--- you.”

Attempts by FCN to reach Humphries for comment have been unsuccessful.