Authorities capture Michigan fugitive with ties to North Georgia

A Michigan fugitive with ties to North Georgia has been caught, authorities announced Thursday.

The FBI had offered a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to the capture of Matthew John Dietz. The 41-year-old man is facing two counts of criminal sexual conduct with a child under 13 and two counts of accosting a child for immoral purposes, according to FBI Atlanta spokesman Kevin Rowson.

Dietz, who has family connections in the Dalton area, was initially charged in Charlevoix County, Michigan, in September 2018. The Charlevoix County Sheriff’s Office began investigating after two children told their parents that Dietz “made advancements and had sexual contact with them,” the agency said in a news release.

He was confronted by the children’s parents before he was reported to law enforcement, according to the sheriff’s office. It was believed he left the county and possibly Michigan before deputies could serve an arrest warrant.

Last month, a federal warrant was issued, charging him with unlawful flight to avoid prosecution, authorities said. The Charlevoix County agency announced his capture on Facebook.