Gwinnett sex offender charged with working too close to schools

A registered sex offender in Gwinnett County has been charged with working too close to a school, church and daycare facility, a warrant shows.

Shannon Noelle Bowles, 29, was charged with a sex offender employment violation and arrested May 29.

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Bowles worked at a Burger King restaurant at 1600 Indian Trail Lilburn Road in Norcross between at least May 6 and May 23, the warrant says. The restaurant is within 1,000 feet of Kids R Kids Learning Academy of Oakbrook, Greater Atlanta Christian School and Greater Atlanta Christian School’s campus church. The Burger King is also less than a mile away from Meadowcreek Elementary School.

Bowles was convicted of cruelty to children in 2013, according to the Georgia Sex Offender Registry. She was originally arrested in 2012, charged with aggravated child molestation. That was pleaded down to the cruelty to children charge, according to a Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman.

The molestation charge stemmed from Bowles allegedly having a sexual relationship with a 14-year-old girl while both were staying at a domestic violence shelter, according to a 2012 indictment. Bowles, then 22, kissed the girl with an open mouth, according to the sheriff's office.

The employment violation is a felony charge. Bowles is being held at the Gwinnett County Detention Center without bond.

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Gwinnett firefighters say the woman's boyfriend and his mother survived.

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