BOWLING GREEN, Ky. --
A former Hebron police employee was caught in a child predator sex sting in Kentucky on Saturday.
On Wednesday, Michael J. Patterson, 24, was indicted by the Warren County grand jury on one count of attempted unlawful transaction with a minor and one count of impersonating a police officer, said Chris Cohron, the Commonwealth attorney for the county who is prosecuting in the case.
According to authorities, Patterson drove more than 350 miles to Bowling Green with the intent to victimize a 13-year-old girl.
The sting, from Oct. 18 through Oct. 21, was in conjunction with NBC's "To Catch A Predator" and Perverted Justice, a volunteer watchdog group, said Corey Bellamy, spokesman for Attorney General Greg Stumbo.
A total of seven men were arrested, each charged with attempted unlawful transaction with a minor under age 16. The other six men were from either Kentucky or Tennessee.
Patterson was in possession of a loaded handgun and identified himself as a police officer, Cohron said.
If convicted of both counts, Patterson could face up to 15 years in prison, Cohron said.
The NBC "Dateline" program is expected to air the arrests by the end of the year, Bellamy said.
Patterson remains in custody in Kentucky, where he is held on a $50,000 cash bond. An arraignment hearing is expected next week.
What's more, Patterson, who lives in Kouts, Ind., faces an arrest warrant stemming from his tenure with the Hebron Police Department whenever he returns to the area.
In August, a state trooper observed Patterson driving a civilian vehicle on Indiana 49, near County Road 200S. His car was speeding with blue and red lights flashing, Burroughs said.
Although he was a volunteer employee with the department, Patterson identified himself to the trooper as a police officer.
"As a reserve officer, you have limited powers," said Adam Burroughs, Porter County supervisory deputy prosecutor.
After investigating the incident, the Hebron Police Department fired Patterson.
With his arrest, Patterson could be charged with a Class D felony for impersonating a public servant, carrying a punishment of up to three years in prison.
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