On February 9, 2023, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division in collaboration with the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) concluded an investigation which resulted in the arrest of a man for the offense of indecent solicitation of a child.  

For the past several weeks, Connor N. Smith, 32, of the 8200 block of Hillcrest Drive, Orland Park, was communicating with an undercover detective online.  The detective was posing as a girl under the age of 15.  During the conversations, Smith sent ‘the child’ sexually explicit images and videos of himself.  Smith then made arrangements to meet the ‘girl’ for a sexual encounter.

On February 9th, Smith drove to meet the girl to engage in a sexual encounter with her.  When Smith arrived, detectives moved in to apprehend him.  Smith, however was able to escape and fled in his vehicle.  

On February 10, 2023, sheriff’s detectives obtained a nationwide arrest warrant for Smith for:

Traveling to Meet a Minor (Class 3 Felony)

Grooming (Class 4 Felony)

Disseminating Harmful Material (Class 4 Felony)

A Lake County Judge set bond on the warrant at $1,000,000.00.  

Smith indicated he would surrender himself on the arrest warrant, but thus far, has failed to do so.  If you see Smith, do not approach him, please contact the local law enforcement jurisdiction where you see him.

All defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.