UPDATE Aug. 8:
Charlotte County Public Safety released a statement to Fox 4 about the arrest of one of their own.
"We are aware that an arrest has been made involving one of our personnel. In accordance with county policy, an internal investigation will be initiated, as is standard with any personnel matter. As this is an ongoing investigation, we do not have further information to share at this time."
UPDATE 2:48 p.m.:
The sheriff's office has released more information about the arrest of an EMT.
On Aug. 5, deputies were called to a Port Charlotte home about concerning text message between a teenager and a man, later identified as Adam Franz.
According to the sheriff's office, the messages were "sexual in nature" and included nude photos of the victim, who is under 16-years-old.
Deputies say Franz was a friend of the victim's family.
Over the last two years, the sheriff's office says Franz had inappropriate sexual contact with the victim several times.
"Through investigation, detectives discovered that Franz had sent the victim messages instructing her to delete other messages in case anyone were to check her phone," the sheriff's office said in a press release. "The device did show that some messages had been deleted."
When Franz was confronted by deputies, he asked for an attorney.
He was arrested and is being held on a $300,000 bond.
ORIGINAL STORY:
The Charlotte County Sheriff's Office arrested a man accused of lewd and lascivious molestation of a minor. Fox 4 has learned he's employed with Charlotte County Public Safety.
Adam Franz was booked into jail on Wednesday on four counts lewd battery of a victim 12 to 16, lewd molestation of a victim 12 to 16, lewd conduct by a person over 18 and lewd exhibition by a person over 18.
The Charlotte County Public Safety spokesperson says they do no have a comment at this time, but did confirm Franz is an employee with the department. According to the county's employee directory, it says Franz is a firefighter/EMT.
Fox 4 has requested the police report to learn more details about the charges.
