NASHVILLE, TN (WSMV) -
A convicted sex offender is back behind bars today after a surveillance photo was seen on local television stations by his mother and stepfather.
Matthew Harber has been no stranger to police. He's a convicted sex offender and the three little girls didn't know that when he approached them Friday.
"I seen it. I paused it on the DVR and there it was, clear as day," said Jamie Price, Harber's stepfather.
Friday morning the three girls were buying candy at an Old Hickory convenience store. One of them was grabbed by a man they identified in the surveillance photo.
"He grabbed me by my chest," said one of the little girls on Friday. "My friend screamed and we ran as fast as we could."
The girls told police the man was carrying a yellow Dollar General Store bag. When police pulled surveillance photos from a nearby store, they saw a 27-year-old man who would later be identified as Matthew Harber.
The photo was aired on all the local television stations.
"My sister called and said I think I saw Matthew on TV. That's when our hearts sank," said Price. "What happened?"
Price said he married Harber's mother 15 years ago when he was just a young boy. Price was reluctant to show his face today because of the nature of this report, but he didn't hesitate at all to take his stepson to police when he saw the surveillance photo.
"It's just the right thing to do, whether he was my stepson or real son," said Price. "It doesn't matter. It's kind of emotional for me."
Emotional and familiar. When Harber was around 11, Price said he did something disturbing in front of his young children.
"He was young. They were young and he flashed himself," said Price. "I immediately called police on that as well."
Harber is on the Sex Offender Registry. Price said he assaulted a store clerk six years ago.
Today Price was busy working on a new home he's building for his family. He and Harber's mother are also working on what to say to the young girl who was attacked.
"She's the same way I am," said Price. "We're concerned about the little girl he attacked. I hope that little girl is able to get past this and deal with this, and I am very sorry."
Harber's family said they've tried to get him help. He's been described as mentally challenged.
Harber remains jailed tonight. The little girl's mother said she's relieved he's in jail.
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