Man at center of Amber Alert indicted on sex charges

A man arrested after he was found with a 14-year-old girl whose disappearance prompted an Amber Alert has been indicted by a Clark County grand jury on several sex charges.

Mark Edwards, 43, of Springfield, was arrested for unlawful sexual conduct with a minor on Sept. 26. He was indicted Monday on six counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor.

He remains in jail in lieu of $50,000 bond.

On Sept. 26, a 14-year-old German Twp. girl went missing from her school bus stop about 7 a.m. After family members contacted law enforcement, Clark County sheriff's deputies and Springfield and German Twp. police began searching for the person believed to have abducted her, identified as Edwards.

Deputies picked up the girl in a green Ford Expedition, which was pulled over in the 3300 block of Ohio 41 just before 10 a.m. The teen was hiding in the rear of the vehicle under blankets.

Inside the SUV, deputies found a Taser, knives, condoms, a spear and more.

Edwards was arrested on three outstanding warrants, all for sexual misconduct with a minor.

Deputies said Edwards and the teenager appeared to be planning a trip together. The girl's mother said her daughter claims to be in love with the man.

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