Illinois Man Charged In Portage Child Molestation Case
An Illinois man is facing charges of Child Molestation after crossing state lines and coming to Portage numerous times to meet with a 12-year-old girl he met online via the Snapchat app, according to police reports.
Joe Benavente, 29, of Hickory Hills, Illinois is facing four counts of Child Molestation and is currently lodged in the Porter County Jail after being arrested at his home in Hickory Hills.
Benavente first started talking to the girl in July of 2023 and drove to Portage to meet the girl on July 27th. It should be noted the girl told Benavente that she was 14 because she didn’t want it to seem she was a toddler by saying her actual age of 12, according to documents. Police reports note Benavente picked up the girl down the street from her home in Portage where they then drove around so they could talk. During this encounter Benavente eventually pulled behind Denny’s restaurant near a wooded area where he repeatedly asked the girl to have sex in the backseat. The girl was reluctant after numerous attempts but then eventually agreed. After this encounter Benavente dropped the girl back off near her home.
The two continued to keep in touch after this incident using the Snapchat app. Benavente came back to Portage on 8/10/23 to pick the girl up again. They initially drove around like the first time till Benavente suggested they go to the Days Inn. Once inside Benavente asked the girl to remove her clothes. The girl initially denied but Benavente said he would stop talking to her if she didn’t. Benavente then allegedly told the girl that having sex now would make it physically easier on her when she’s older. The girl reportedly told him no five times but he asked her please while looking upset. The girl then agreed but stated they did not have sex during this encounter.
Portage Police were made aware of the incidents after the girl spoke to a school counselor about the encounters in October. The report stated after the girl did research on the topic that she decided she should tell somebody.
Benavente is scheduled to make his first court appearance Wednesday.
