Peachtree City golf pro arrested for child exploitation
A Jonesboro golf pro who lives in Peachtree City was arrested for child exploitation Sunday after attempting to meet a person he thought was a minor.
Barry Loman, 45, was greeted instead by federal agents. He had driven to northwest Georgia for a rendezvous, arranged online.
“This is beyond our comprehension,” said Sherry Hamilton, financial officer of Lake Spivey Golf Course. Loman was named Lake Spivey’s head pro in March 2008. “I can’t wrap my brain around it.”
She described Loman, who has three children and two grandchildren, as a devoted family man; “His teenage son works here,” Hamilton said.
Loman and his son were on the links Sunday afternoon for a tournament, Hamilton said.
From there it appears Loman headed directly to Catoosa County, where he was arrested.
Background checks performed before he was hired showed no cause for alarm, Hamilton said.
He taught children at Lake Spivey, but only in group sessions. “We never received any complaints,” Hamilton said.
No decision has been made on Loman’s future with the club.
“We’re still gathering facts,” Hamilton said. “But what we’ve heard so far is very embarrassing. I’m hoping against hope that this is some gigantic misunderstanding, but I’m not holding my breath.”
About the Author
A native Atlantan, Boone joined the AJC staff in 2007. He quickly carved out a niche covering crime stories, assuming the public safety beat in 2014. He's covered some of the biggest trials this decade, from Hemy Neuman to Ross Harris to Chip Olsen, the latter of which was featured on Season 7 of the AJC's award-winning "Breakdown" podcast.
