Via an undercover operation, authorities have arrested a former elementary school principal on child sex crime charges in North Georgia.
Mark Avery Pickel was arrested Tuesday in North Georgia and charged with coercion and enticement of a minor, transportation of child pornography in interstate commerce and interstate travel with intent to engage in a sexual act with a minor, according to an affidavit filed by FBI special agent Samuel Moore. The 51-year-old man, who lives in Cleveland, Tennessee, remains in jail and will be arraigned Feb. 28, according to a report by the Cleveland Daily Banner.
According to reports, Pickel came in contact with an undercover officer with the Chattanooga Police Department on Feb. 3 though the app Kik. They connected in the social network’s “Loving Kids” group. The officer led Pickel to believe that she was the mother of an infant daughter, according to prosecutors. Pickel asked the agent if she “played (had sexual contact) with the infant child and when she planned to start,” according to the affidavit.
Furthermore, the father of two also shared “10-20 pics and vids” of child pornography with the agent.
Pickel asked if the agent was a cop because he didn’t want to be “ambushed” by police, since his kids needed their dad. He also admitted that he preferred to use phones rather than computers for pornography to avoid getting caught.
“The prosecutor said Pickel sent a photo of himself to the undercover agent, and it was arranged that they would meet on Tuesday ‘in a lodging facility in Northern Georgia,' " according to the affidavit.
Pickel arrived about 11:30 a.m. at the agreed-upon location, where he was arrested.
Pickel was assistant principal at Polk County High School from July 2004 to June 2008, according to published reports. ABC affiliate station WJCL reports that Pickel worked in Tennessee schools for 17 years.
Schools where Pickel worked:
- Polk County High School teacher (1987-2004)
- Polk County High School assistant principal (2004-2008)
- City Park Elementary principal (2009-2011)
- Vonore Elementary principal (2013-2014)
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