news-record.com

GREENSBORO — A Raleigh firefighter was arrested Thursday on charges he sought to have sex with a 14-year-old girl he met online — who was actually a Guilford County undercover deputy.

Richard Brandon Wells, 31, of Zebulon, was arrested Thursday morning at the Raleigh Police Department by a detective with the Guilford County Sheriff’s Office.

Wells is accused of chatting online since May with an undercover deputy he believed was a 14-year-old girl, according to the sheriff’s office.

At one point, Wells indicated he was willing to travel to Guilford County to meet with the girl for the purpose of a sexual encounter, authorities said.

According to arrest warrants read in court during his first appearance, Wells is accused of masturbating on a webcam in September while he thought he was talking to the girl and encouraging her to do the same.

Steve Allen, Wells’ attorney, attended Friday’s court hearing with the man’s father to ask Chief District Court Judge Joseph E. Turner to lower his bond from $100,000.

Allen said Wells has deep roots in the Wake County area  and has been employed for the past 10 years at various fire departments in the county. Allen said at one of his jobs, Wells was named employee of the year, but he didn’t elaborate.

“This present bond is excessive,” Allen said, insisting Wells was not a flight risk.

Turner lowered the bond to $20,000.

“Mr. Wells is a fine, excellent citizen of the community and we will fight these charges,” Allen said after the hearing.

“He is presumed innocent until proven guilty.”

According to a spokeswoman for the city of Raleigh, Wells has been employed as a firefighter there since January 2004.

His current rank is first class firefighter, and he earns about $43,000 a year.

He was suspended without pay on Friday morning.

Contact Ryan Seals at 373-7077 or ryan.seals@news-record.com