A 23-year-old Shelbyville man is facing child solicitation charges after authorities say he drove to Portage to meet who he believed was a 13-year-old, according to court records. Porter County prosecutors charged Marco Garcia following an investigation into message threads and a prearranged rendezvous that led detectives to the Portage location.
According to the charge documents, Portage police were contacted after a member of NWI Predator Catchers reported an online communication that they suspected included a kid. The probable cause document, which was also detailed by Region News Source, claims Garcia confirmed the decoy’s age in messages and agreed to meet in Portage. That filing provides the foundation for the child solicitation cases that are currently pending in Porter County.
In recent years, Portage police have increased their assessment of information from NWI Predator Catchers, and local reports indicate that several arrests have resulted from such operations. According to the Chicago Tribune, a Valparaiso man was charged in 2024 following a sting attributed to the same organization, demonstrating how citizen decoy efforts have become one method for detecting online solicitation instances. When such message threads are given over, detectives often evaluate them and, if probable cause is shown, seek warrants or file formal charges.
Child solicitation is considered a felony in Indiana, with penalties varying according to the ages involved and the alleged activity. According to state law and appellate rulings, a Level 5 felony solicitation conviction can result in one to six years in prison, while a Level 4 conviction can result in up to 12 years, depending on the past record and other conditions. Recent Indiana appellate opinions, available in public court databases, explain how courts have construed the Act and associated appeals.
The charges in Porter County are listed in court papers, and the case’s initial public report was published by Region News Source. The Porter County Prosecutor’s Office will investigate the case, and the county court docket is expected to reflect any scheduled hearings or further steps as the case progresses through the local system.
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