A north Alabama judge sentenced a man to life in prison for traveling to meet a 13-year-old girl for sex, prosecutors said Monday.

Christopher Dean Moyer pleaded guilty to traveling to meet a child for sex, electronic solicitation of a child and transmitting obscene material shortly before he was set to go on trial Aug. 21, said 9th Judicial District Attorney Summer Summerford. The 9th district encompasses Cherokee and DeKalb counties.

At Moyer’s sentencing hearing Monday before 9th Judicial Circuit Judge Shaunathan Bell, prosecutors showed evidence that included messaged from Moyer to a person who Moyer thought was a 13-year-old girl, Summerford said.

The messages included images and details to meet with the presumed child for sexual purposes, according to the DA.

Moyer was arrested when he showed up to meet the “girl.” At the time of his arrest, he was found with a gun, a controlled substance, petroleum jelly, shaving cream, razors and an extra motorcycle helmet; most of the purchase were bought an hour before the meeting at a Walmart in Centre, Summerford said.

“Predators in our community are on notice that this type of behavior will not be tolerated. Children, and parents, should be able to go about their everyday lives without worrying about who is trying to gain access to their children. We appreciate the maximum sentences handed down by Judge Bell in these cases,” said Summerford. These cases were prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Stanna Guice and Brady Burns.

Bell gave Moyer the maximum sentence for each of the three counts — life for traveling to meet a child for sex and 20 years each for electronic solicitation of a child and transmitting obscene material.