DOVER — Barry T. Cooper, of Georgetown, was arrested in the McDonald’s parking lot at 1700 East Lebanon Road on Tuesday by the Delaware State Police Child Predator Unit and is now facing 16 counts of sexual solicitation of a child.

Mr. Cooper allegedly was expecting to meet a man’s 14-year-old daughter for sex after exchanging emails with what turned out to be an undercover police officer on several different occasions beginning May 17.

It turned out that Mr. Cooper, a 5-foot-11, 210-pound white male, was instead communicating with a Troop 3 uniform patrol officer he had encountered on a website designed for casual sexual meetings.

The officer was conducting undercover investigations on the site and noted that from prior experience he knew people with an interest in sexual taboos, including sex with underage children, used the site for possible meetings in person.

On Tuesday at around 8 a.m. Mr. Cooper sent the officer an email saying he would be at the McDonald’s in a white van. He told the officer he and his “daughter” could have sex in the van.

Upon arrival, Mr. Cooper was taken into custody without incident. A search of his van turned up a bag containing ropes, condoms, lubrication and Viagra.

The communication between Mr. Cooper and the “father” of the “teenage girl” began more than a month ago.

On May 17, the officer responded to an advertisement that had been placed by Mr. Cooper in the casual encounters section that claimed he was looking for men with “all kinds of internal fantasies they would like to act upon” and keeping a “secret life” hidden.

The officer replied to Mr. Cooper that he had taboo thoughts and a teenage daughter to whom he was sexually attracted. He then asked Mr. Cooper what his “taboo” was and if he had any limits.

According to court documents, Mr. Cooper responded he was sexually attracted to young girls and boys. He stated he was 60-years-old — though the Criminal Justice Information System has his birth date listed as April 17, 1941 — and previously had sex with a 16-year-old boy.

Mr. Cooper allegedly went on to say he was always looking for young boys and girls to seduce. He said his age limit would be around 11 or 12 years old but could change depending on the situation.

Mr. Cooper then told the officer he had an interest in meeting his 14-year-old daughter for sex if he “shared her,” according to the court documents. He said he watches young girl pornography and it really “turns him on.”

On May 17, Mr. Cooper emailed that if the man was willing to “share” his 14-year-old daughter that he was available weekdays during the day until 3 p.m.

Over the course of the next month, Mr. Cooper’s interest escalated as he sent nude photos of himself to what he believed to be a man’s teen daughter and began emailing to an undercover account that he was led to believe belonged to a young girl.

The emails eventually led to Mr. Cooper setting up a meeting with the man’s “daughter” and he was subsequently arrested.

In addition to the 16 counts of soliciting sex with a child, he also was charged with one count of child pornography and two counts of obstruction