A Franklin County sheriff’s deputy was arrested Monday oncharges of computerized luring of a person under 18 for sexualpurposes based on questionable text messages he allegedly sent to ajuvenile Lincoln County female.

Lincoln County Sheriff Steve Rushing confirmed that Deputy BryanA. Emfinger, 38, of 500 Union Church Road, Meadville, was arrestedafter a probable cause hearing. The arrest warrant was issued byJudge David Strong after the hearing.

“A family member of the juvenile filed the complaint with us,”Rushing said. “Charges were filed which resulted in his arrest. Butthere’s not a lot we can say about it until it’s gone to the grandjury.”

Franklin County Sheriff James Newman confirmed that the juvenileis a former stepdaughter of Emfinger’s, and that charges were filedby her natural father.

“Once I found out that the father had signed the affidavit, andneither the state nor the county officials signed the affidavit, Idid suspend him,” Newman said. “Hopefully this will be handled in aspeedy, speedy way.”

Emfinger is a former resident of Lincoln County and formerLincoln County deputy.

“This is an ongoing case dealing with a minor subject,” Rushingsaid. “There is a lot pending grand jury. The whole case is.”

Probable cause hearings are routine for law enforcement officersaccused of a crime. Emfinger was released on bond Mondayafternoon.