A Wood County jury returned a guilty verdict Wednesday afternoon against Todd Karch, former director of transportation for the Mineola ISD, who was accused of using an Internet site to seek a sexual encounter with 16-year-old Mineola student. He was given a sentence of 20 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

Karch elected to be sentenced by the jury, which reconvened Wednesday afternoon for the trial’s punishment phase. Karch, 50, was indicted in April 2018 on a charge of online sexual solicitation of a minor, a third-degree felony.

The teenager testified Tuesday, as did Mineola police Capt. Joyce Box, who interviewed the teen as part of an investigation.

According to his testimony, the teen began communicating with someone unknown to him through an online dating app called Grindr in January 2017. As the conversation progressed, the person asked to meet up for sex, the teen testified.

The teenager said he had signed up for the Grindr account as an 18-year-old; however, he later revealed to the person he met online that he was actually16 before sexual details and pictures were exchanged.

The minor described the online relationship as a friendship for the most part to discuss sexuality concerns. In September 2017, he then wanted to know who he was communicating with online and asked for a photo.

Karch eventually responded with a school yearbook photo of himself, the teen testified. The victim recognized Karch and then asked a series of questions, which confirmed Karch’s identity, the teenager testified.

The boy’s friends later encouraged him to stop communicating on the app, he testified. Karch’s online relationship with the alleged victim eventually was reported in October 2017.

An investigation into the matter ensued.