A 26-year-old Illinois man was arrested Monday afternoon in Portage after police say he traveled to meet a person he believed was a 13-year-old child following online conversations.
According to a Portage Police report, officers responded around 2:46 p.m. on July 27 to the Marathon gas station on U.S. Highway 6 after receiving information from the Northwest Indiana Predator Catchers regarding a suspicious individual.
Police said the reporting party told officers she had been communicating with a man identified as Oliver C. Levy through Snapchat. During the conversation, she informed Levy she was 13 years old.
Investigators allege Levy continued communicating with the individual, provided his cellphone number, and exchanged messages before arranging to meet in Portage.
Officers were also provided with a photograph that had allegedly been sent by Levy, along with information that he was waiting in the area of 6660 Wind Jammer Way in a red Jeep.
When officers arrived, they located a red 2020 Jeep Renegade with Illinois registration and made contact with the driver, who identified himself as Oliver C. Levy, 26, of Palatine, Illinois.
According to the report, Levy acknowledged he had come to meet someone named “Sam” and told officers he believed the person was 13 years old. Police said he admitted the two had discussed sexual topics through text messages but claimed he was only looking for a new friend.
The report states officers confronted Levy with one of the messages, and he admitted sending it. He also told investigators he initially connected with the account through Snapchat’s “People You May Know” feature.
A Portage Police detective responded to the scene and took over the investigation. Levy was taken into custody without incident and transported to the Porter County Jail following an interview.
Levy was preliminarily charged with:
- Child Solicitation (Level 4 Felony)
- Child Solicitation (Level 5 Felony)
As with all criminal cases, the charges are merely allegations. Oliver C. Levy is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
