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School employee accused of trying to meet teen for sex

OVIEDO, Fla. — A Seminole County school employee has been arrested and is accused of trying to meet what he thought was a 14-year-old boy for sex in Oviedo on Saturday.

According to Oviedo police, an undercover detective was posing as a 14-year-old boy on Craigslist as part of an online sex sting.

Police said Mark Thorpe, 48, contacted the detective through email and initiated a conversation. Thorpe was interested in meeting the 14-year-old and asked sexual questions, according to an arrest affidavit.

On Saturday, Thorpe allegedly agreed to meet what he thought was the teen at a public park off of Alafaya Woods Boulevard in Oviedo. Investigators said Thorpe thought the park was too crowded, so he changed to meeting location to River Woods Park on McCully Court.

Thorpe was arrested at the park. Police said he had two pornographic DVDs and candy with him.

According to officials, Thorpe is the food service manager at Rock Lake Middle School in Longwood. Because of the contact he has with students, he is being held on no bond at the Seminole County jail.

Police said the school board was notified of Thorpe's arrest.