Lake Station Male Drove To Portage To Meet 13 Year Old Because “It Would Be Easy”
On 11/15/25 at approximately 7 PM, Portage Officers were dispatched to 6660 Wind Jammer in regard to NWI Predator Catchers meeting with an adult male who believed he was meeting with a 13 year old girl, according to Portage Police reports.
On arrival officers met with a male who identified himself as Yahir Rico Rangel, 20, of Lake Station. Yahir told officers he arrived to meet with a 13-year-old girl he met online named Anna. When officers asked what they were going to do, Yahir stated, they were going to have a sexual relationship. Yahir then stated he did not want to do it because he did not even know her like that but they had met on the Facebook dating app.
Yahir told officers he was meeting “Anna” for the purpose of having sex but also stated he thought he was being scammed. Yahir was asked why he came to Portage then, Yahir paused for a while and then stated if a young girl came out, then he would have left. Officers asked Yahir if he was going to leave without meeting “Anna” first and he said yes. He advised because he knew she was young. Yahir told police the purpose for coming all the way to Portage from Lake Station was because he wanted to see if he was being “Scammed”. Yahir said once he found out that he was being “Scammed” he would have left. Yahir eventually stated he would have had sex with her if the opportunity presented itself. Yahir also admitted to knowing it was wrong due to her age. Yahir further stated he did all this because he knew it would be easy to have sex with her. He was found to have 3 condoms in his possession. Yahir further stated he knows he made a mistake.
Yahir told officers the last time he had sexual relations was a month ago with a woman that he paid for her services who was around 26 years old. Officers asked Yahir if he ever had sex with anyone underage. Yahir stated he has not and advised he was only meeting up with “Anna” because he thought it would be easy.
Yahir was charged with Child Solicitation Level 4 and Level 5 and lodged in Porter County Jail.
