Retired Independence teacher accused of attempting to have sex with 13-year-old

Prosecutors have accused a retired Independence school teacher of attempting to have sex with a person he thought was a 13-year-old girl.

Buchanan County, Mo., prosecutors charged Thomas R. Demark, 69, with attempted enticement of a child, a felony.

He retired in 1999 as a secondary school teacher in the Independence School District, a district official said Tuesday. The official would not say where he taught, but yearbooks show he was a longtime driver’s education teacher at Truman High School.

According to court documents:

Demark arrived in St. Joseph on May 30 after several days of online communications with a person he thought was a 13-year-old girl. Demark allegedly had discussed sexual activities with the person and told her how to delete online communications to destroy evidence. He had suggested that he pick her up and take her to his house.

Demark carried a backpack containing condoms, other sexual devices and a pistol from his car to the door of the home where he expected to pick up the girl.

When being arrested, Demark attempted to grab the pistol.

Bond has been set for $10,000. A preliminary hearing is set for June 25.

James Wyrsch, a Kansas City lawyer representing Demark, said his client had pleaded not guilty. Wyrsch declined to comment further.

This story was originally published June 9, 2015 at 3:59 PM with the headline "Retired Independence teacher accused of attempting to have sex with 13-year-old."