Story Highlights
Police arrest registered sex offender William Joe Mitchell at Virginia truck stop

Mitchell suspected of luring teen girl on Myspace.com

Girl found in Wal-Mart parking lot earlier this week, after alleged abduction

Girl left house in middle of night to meet up with Mitchell, sheriff said

(CNN) -- Police on Saturday arrested a registered sex offender suspected of luring a 15-year-old girl on Myspace.com, authorities said.

William Joe Mitchell was apprehended at a "The Flying J Truck Stop" just outside of Winchester, Virginia, authorities said. Virginia State Police arrested him without incident.

Detectives received a tip Saturday that he was at the truck stop, located off Interstate 81, according to the Polk County sheriff's department.

Personal items belonging to the teenager were found in his car, according to the sheriff's statement.

Mitchell had allegedly been communicating with Alyssa Frank on the popular Web site Myspace.com, officials said.

Mitchell, 46, told Frank he was 24 years old, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd told CNN.

Virginia and Polk County, Florida, authorities and the U.S. Marshals Service in Tampa, Florida, were working together on the case.

Polk County Sheriff's detectives found Frank earlier this week, one day after she disappeared. She was found wandering around a Wal-Mart store in DeFuniak Springs, Florida, and had apparently been abandoned by her alleged abductor.A store employee called police after noticing the girl.

Mitchell took Frank to the store in an apparent attempt to "dump her," Judd said.

Mitchell, in leaving the girl, told her not to draw attention to herself or he would kill her, Judd said in a statement.

Frank is believed to have left her house in Bartow, Florida, before dawn Monday to rendezvous with Mitchell, Judd said. He then apparently took her to Alabama.

Mitchell brought her back to DeFuniak Springs, which is between Pensacola and Tallahassee on the Florida Panhandle.

Polk County authorities said Mitchell faces charges including solicitation to commit a lewd act; enticing a child via the Internet; interference with custody; and traveling to meet a minor. He also is sought on warrants from Jacksonville, Florida, and Alabama, said Polk County sheriff's spokeswoman Donna Wood.

The teen's father, Rodger Frank, told CNN Saturday he had no idea his daughter had been communicating with Mitchell. He urged parents to talk to their kids about what they are doing online.

"We've had serious talks about [not putting] information of your own out there to the people," he said. "The Internet is for information. It's not a playground."

Frank said he is installing spy software on his computer to help him monitor what his daughter is doing. "We think our children are well-behaved," he said. "We have to watch them harder. We don't know everything."

Speaking with Rodger Frank, Judd warned others who are trying to take advantage of young people. "We'll hunt you down like the felon and criminal you are," he said. "You keep your hands off our children."

oh wow, that guy has warrants in my town. glad he's locked up!

I'm glad too

what is wrong with these grown folks preying on children?

I agree, heartSoul ,

And how are SO MANY of them finding work as teachers these days?

you really dont want to know what i think should be done to him!!!! and all like him!!!

teachers and the like...

oh my goodness

these people are just horrible

I think they should have their balls cut off....

good idea bailey and make the incision just below the chin.

keep in mind he hasent been convicted of anything yet on this case, so i will wait till the case is tried to have any opinion, and you should too. Ive seen this kind of thing before and it is not uncommon for it to be a big lie from the cops. comes under the heading of: dont believe anything you hear or read and about half of what you see, and you will be close to the truth. Sex charges are often used to discredit someone that the cops dont like, like tax protesters, those who teach that you dont need a drivers licence, ect.