According to a press release issued by police officials on Friday, a minister of a Dallas-area Baptist megachurch was arrested after an Internet sex sting. The charges were filed under online solicitation of a minor, which could add up to 20 years in prison.

Joe Barron, 52, of Plano was casually having online sexually-oriented conversations with a 13-year-old girl. Or so he thought; actually, undercover officers were luring him to the point when they would have enough evidence to bring him down. This happened on May 6, when, after about two weeks of online talking, Mr. Barron came with the suggestion of meeting the young girl in person. On Thursday, once he arrived in Bryan after a 200-mile drive, he was arrested. A web-cam and condoms were found in his car.

Bryan officers were assisted by Plano Police Department representatives while performing a search in Mr. Barron’s house. A desktop computer, two laptops and numerous disks and memory cards were seized.

Joe Barron is one of the 40 ministers of the Prestonwood Baptist Church, which, with its more than 26,000 members, is one of the largest churches in the U.S. Although the news came as a shock to most community members, church officials are cooperating with the police the best way they can.

Mr. Barron was released from prison on bond Friday night.