A juvenile detention officer tried to arrange to have sex with a 12-year-old girl with whom he thought was the girl's father, deputies say.

  • Juvenile detention officer accused of traveling to meet girl for sex
  • Joel Bryan Eddy traveled to Seminole County, investigators say
  • Eddy is being held on $80,000 bond

Joel Bryan Eddy of Volusia County is facing charges of using a computer to solicit a parent for sex with a child and traveling to meet a minor for sex.

According to a Seminole County Sheriff's Office arrest report, Eddy replied to an ad on an internet bulletin board May 26 that, unknown to him, was placed there by an undercover law enforcement officer. The officer portrayed himself as the father of a 12-year-old girl.

Investigators said Eddy indicated he wanted to have sex with the girl, even though the officer, pretending to be the girl's dad, made clear his daughter was 12. Over several weeks, Eddy stated multiple times that he wanted to meet to have sex with the girl, they said.

On Tuesday, Eddy arranged with the "father" to meet at a predetermined location in Seminole County, investigators said. When he got there, deputies arrested him.

Eddy was booked into the Polk Correctional Faculty in Sanford on $80,000 bond. Because he works for a law enforcement agency, Eddy's photo, birth date and address are exempt from public release, the Sheriff's Office said.