By Sharon Turco and Robert Anglen
The Cincinnati Enquirer

The Elmwood Place police chief used his work computer to solicit sex from a 15-year-old girl, police say.

But the person on the other side of the Internet chat room was really a Hamilton County sheriff's deputy.

Jeremy Alley, who was sworn in as the village's chief just 11 days ago, was arrested Thursday at Village Hall after a Hamilton County grand jury indicted him on five charges of importuning.

Alley, who was computer officer for the 2,700-resident village before becoming chief, resigned Wednesday - the same day deputies seized the department's three computers.

If convicted, the 26-year-old St. Bernard resident could be sentenced to up to five years in prison.

Elmwood Place Councilman Barney Philpot said he was shocked by Alley's arrest.

"I've known Jeremy since he was 6 or 7 years old," Philpot said. "He used to play ball with my son. He was quiet and refined and very mannerly. I guess you never know what goes on behind closed doors."

Elmwood Place Mayor Jim Toles did not return calls to his office and home.

The Mill Creek Valley community is located just off Interstate 75 across from St. Bernard.

Detective Cheryl Hart, a member of the sheriff's Regional Electronic and Computer Investigations unit, stumbled across Alley's suggestive chat room comments while posing as a 15-year-old to patrol the Internet for sex offenders, authorities said.

Alley tried to arrange several meetings for the sexual encounter to occur, sheriff's deputies said.

Alley and the fake 15-year-old first made computer contact March 17, chatting that day, the following day and March 20. They chatted again April 7 and as recently as Tuesday, after he had taken his oath as chief, according the indictment.

Shortly after Alley resigned Wednesday afternoon, Philpot said the mayor called each of the six council members individually to explain the situation.

"I don't know if the mayor asked him to resign or if he did it voluntarily," said Philpot, who has been on the council for eight years.

Philpot said Alley had been acting police chief for almost two months and, in that time, he received at least two letters of recommendation and had done a good job responding to community issues. On April 14, the council appointed him full-time police chief.

"I guess this was more shocking because he had done such good work," Philpot said.

Village Council will hold a special hearing next week to discuss the issue. But Philpot said one of the biggest concerns is getting the computers back.

The temporary loss of the computers will not affect everyday police work, but "we can only go without them for a short time," Philpot said.

E-mail sturco@enquirer.com and ranglen@enquirer.com