AVON, Ind. — A former law enforcement officer from northeast Indiana was sentenced Tuesday on a child solicitation charge.
According to court records, former Portland, Indiana police officer Joshua Clark was sentenced to six years in prison, with about three months' credit for time served. A jury found Clark guilty in July of Level 4 Felony child solicitation.
Clark will also have to register as a sex offender and is not eligible for probation, the judge in the case ruled.
Clark had been identified and recorded during a civilian child online solicitation sting. He reportedly drove from Portland to Avon, distance of about 110 miles, to meet with who he thought was a 14-year-old girl with whom he chatting online, according to the sting organizers.
During his arrest by Avon police, Clark was wearing a shirt with the word "DangeRus" on it.
Portland Police Chief Josh Stevenson suspended Clark immediately after seeing the video of the sting posted to social media. Subsequently, Clark officially resigned his position.
Stevenson said Clark had passed all of his required background and psychological checks before he was hired by the department.
Avon Police said they were notified of the attempted meeting on May 13.
According to police, Clark faces a sentence in the range of 2-12 years in prison.