The middle-aged Blount County man thought he was forming a relationship with a 13-year-old girl over the Internet.

But Hal Ernest Helton, 45, received a surprise when Blount County deputies informed him the "girl" was actually a middle-aged male police officer.

Helton was charged Friday with solicitation of a minor and sexual exploitation of a minor following a week's worth of chat room and e-mail contact with Detective Charles Merlo of the Shelbyville Police Department.

Merlo said he was conducting an undercover investigation involving child sex offenders on the Internet.

"I entered a chat room April 2 as a 13-year-old girl," Merlo said. "Shortly after entering the chat room I was approached by a 45-year-old male."

Helton e-mailed an explicit photo the next day, committed lewd actions in front of a webcam on April 7 and 8 and requested sex in a chat room, Merlo said.

Following arrest Helton was brought to Shelbyville and admitted all actions to Detective Brian Crews and Merlo.

Helton, charged with three counts of exploitation of a minor by electronic means and one count of solicitation of a minor, posted $80,000 bond.

Thefts

A container of prescription drugs was taken from employee Marie Powell's purse between 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Monday at Chili's, North Main Street.

Powell told police the bottle was inside her purse, which she left in an area inaccessible to customers.

*The catalytic converter was cut off a van at Ed's Motors, Madison Street, police said Tuesday. Exact date of the theft was unknown.

Jail intake

The following persons were arrested since Monday by the Bedford County Sheriff's Department, Shelbyville Police Department, Tennessee Highway Patrol or 17th Judicial District Drug Task Force and processed through Bedford County Jail. They are only charged; guilt or innocence will be determined by the courts.

*Timothy Lane Dugger, 43, Barksdale Lane; vandalism; released, $500 bond

*Charles William Jones, 40, Courtland Drive; evading arrest, domestic assault, resist stop/frisk/halt/search, public intoxication; held, $13,500 bond

*Estrada Lampis, 30, Columbia; violation of probation; held, $2,500 bond

*Benjamin Ruio Munoz, 20, Moreland Avenue; driving on revoked/suspended license; released, $1,000 bond

*Shirley Lee Ratliff, 39, U.S. 231 North, Deason; domestic assault; held, $10,000 bond

*Ronald Frederick Smith, 37, Frederick Smith Lane; domestic assault; held, $2,500 bond

*Brittanee Maree Willard, 21, Charlie Shaw Road; identity theft, forgery, theft of property; held, $30,000 bond

*Dana John Willard, 58, East Lane Street; violation check law (three counts); held, $1,500 bond