SOUTH FORSYTH — A south Forsyth man who tried making woods near the Chatthoochee River into his personal nude sunbathing spot has discovered the area wasn’t as secluded as he thought.

Following a months-long investigation by neighbors and authorities, a 43-year-old south Forsyth man received a warning from the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office that he could have been cited for public indecency.

He also was told that severe charges would have been attached if a child had seen him. He assured officers it would never happen again.

The investigation began this summer when the owner of a trail camera set up near the Chattahoochee downloaded photos taken between 5:29 and 6:17 p.m. Aug. 7.

Among them were two photos of a nearly nude man. In the first, the 6-foot, 170-pound suspect was wearing a baseball hat and athletic shoes, according to a sheriff’s report. Later, he had put on a T-shirt, but no pants.

The camera owner had placed the device on an acquaintance’s property near the Olde Atlanta Golf Club and Bear’s Best Golf Course because she lets him hunt there, according to the report. One of her neighbors researched the man in the photo, eventually matching him to a Facebook page.

Sheriff’s deputies eventually contacted the man by phone Oct. 17. He said he would come to headquarters after he returned from a trip to North Carolina.

On Oct. 24, deputies met with the man, who said he was aware of the situation and apologized.

According to the sheriff’s report, he had seen two people “sun bathing in the nude” while clearing a path “down by the [Chattahoochee]” and wanted to experience the same thing.

The man stated he had thought he would be able to hear someone coming while in the woods. He added that he was aware a homeowners’ association had sent the photos out through email and “felt really bad about what he had done.”