Update published Friday, Mar. 7:
The South Korean man who has been the subject of several incidents at high schools in Northeast Georgia in the past week is now being held in the Gwinnett County Jail.
Jail records indicate Dongha Lee, age 18, is being held on a charge of "failure of unauthorized person to check in at designated location upon entering school." He's held on a just-under $3,000 bond as of Friday morning.
That charge is in addition to an immigration hold placed on Lee by the Department of Homeland Security when he was arrested by the Hall County Sheriff's Office on Wednesday afternoon near Flowery Branch. Authorities say Lee has been in the United States on a 90-day tourist visa that expires in May.
Both Hall and Gwinnett County school officials have warned parents and students about Lee's behavior, saying he showed up at both Seckinger and West Hall high schools in the past week, including trying to enroll at West Hall High School inappropriately. Hall County deputies reportedly issued Lee a criminal trespassing warrant on Tuesday.
Lee was initially booked into the Hall County Jail on Wednesday, but was later taken to the Gwinnett County Jail.
Original story published Thursday, Mar. 6:
A South Korean man accused of trespassing at multiple schools in Northeast Georgia, as well as trying to contact students, was arrested Wednesday.
The Hall County Sheriff's Office said Dongha Lee, age 18, was arrested at a home on Laurel Wood Trail near Flowery Branch. As of Thursday morning, he remained held in the Hall County Jail without bond.
Lee was issued a criminal trespassing warning by deputies on Tuesday night after Hall County School District officials said he inappropriately tried to enroll at West Hall High School. The principal of nearby Seckinger High School in northern Gwinnett County had issued a statement earlier in the week, warning parents and students of an unidentified person trying to contact students via social media and arrange meet-ups at various locations in Gwinnett. The statement also advised the person had physically shown up at the high school.
The Hall County Sheriff's Office said Lee has been in the United States on a 90-day tourist visa, which is valid through May. Lee's booking information shows him facing an immigration hold from the Department of Homeland Security, as well as a hold from Gwinnett County. As of Thursday morning, the Gwinnett County Police Department has not responded to inquiries as to what charges he faces there.
The deputies who responded to the Laurel Wood Trail home Tuesday reportedly did so after a 911 call from Lee himself, who wanted to talk to authorities after he said he received threats following news reports of his attempts to enroll at Seckinger.
No law enforcement or school officials have confirmed if Lee was successful in contacting or meeting with any local students.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2025/3/1288970/south-korean-man-accused-of-school-trespassing-now-in-gwinnett-jail