AVON — A former Portland police officer has been sentenced to more than six years in prison after being found guilty of trying to meet a decoy posing as an underage girl.
A jury convicted Joshua Clark on a single count of child solicitation, a level 4 felony, while another count of child seduction was dismissed without prejudice, according to online court records.
He'll serve a total of 2,195 days at the Indiana Department of Corrections, or approximately six years and five days, according to Hendricks Superior Court.
Clark was convicted back in July on the allegation he arranged to engage in sexual conduct with a 14-year-old last year in Avon.
He was suspended in May and placed on suspension after the attempted meet-up. Days after the fact, he was arrested by Avon police.
The group behind the decoy is known as "Predator Catchers". The group posted an hour-long video of the encounter with Clark, in which he is heard calling himself an "idiot."
Portland Mayor John Boggs later said that Clark had resigned and that all his equipment had been collected.
In addition to prison time, Clark will have to register as a sex offender with IDOC.
Clark has 30 days after Sept. 14 to file an appeal, according to court records.
-
Indiana's Fernando Mendoza wins Davey O'Brien Award
Indiana's Fernando Mendoza has won the Davey O'Brien Award as the nation's top quarterback, the second of what could be three major honors in as many days.
Current and future first responders train at Emergency Services Education Center
The center equips current and future firefighters with the skills, confidence and leadership they need to save lives.
County-by-county: Saturday snowfall potential across Central Indiana
Another round of snow moves across Central Indiana again Saturday. A Winter Storm Warning is in effect 11am to midnight.
Indiana in national spotlight after redistricting fails in Senate
Indiana is in the national spotlight after lawmakers rejected a proposal backed by the president and GOP leaders to redraw congressional district maps mid-session.
