A 55-year-old Campbellsburg man thought he was text messaging an underage child, but he was actually messaging Seymour police.

Larry A. Grubbs was arrested around 2 p.m. Monday on a Level 4 felony charge of sexual misconduct with a minor after police said he attempted to meet with the child for a sexual encounter.

Seymour Detective Chris Franklin began texting with Grubbs after a parent of the child reported messaging began Saturday.

Franklin, pretending to be the child, arranged to meet Grubbs at a local restaurant in Seymour on Monday. He told police he got the child’s number following a misdial.

Grubbs had messaged the child that he wanted to kiss them and ultimately have a sexual encounter, Franklin said. He admitted to police it was his intention to meet the child Monday for a sexual encounter, Franklin said.

After he arrived at the restaurant, Grubbs was taken to the Seymour Police Department by officers.

He was booked into the Jackson County Jail in Brownstown at 4:14 p.m. Monday without bond.

A Level 4 felony is punishable between two and 12 years upon conviction.

Seymour police were assisted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Bloomington.

Following the interview and arrest, Franklin said it was the first time in his 26 years in law enforcement that he participated in such a case.

“This is the first time I’ve ever done something like this,” he said.