A Georgia man who came to Lake County to pursue a “romantic relationship” with a girl under the age of 14 has been arrested, according to the sheriff’s office.
Jordy Alexis Fuerte, 24, of Norcross, Georgia, was arrested by police at the Independence Grove Forest Preserve near Libertyville, where he was parked in his vehicle with the girl, authorities said.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office said the girl’s parents contacted police at around 4:40 a.m. Saturday, saying their daughter was missing from their Gurnee-area home.
Police said they determined that Fuerte had previously been in contact with the girl and had made plans to drive to Illinois to meet her. After determining the vehicle Fuerte was driving, police used public cameras to track the vehicle to the forest preserve.
Both Fuerte and the girl were found in the vehicle at around 6 p.m. Saturday. The girl was not hurt, but was taken to the Lake County Child Advocacy Center for specialized attention, police said.
Fuerte was charged with solicitation of child pornography and unlawful possession of a controlled substance, police said. Other charges may be forthcoming, according to authorities.
“This type of case is a parent’s worst nightmare,” Sheriff John Idleburg said. “Our Criminal Investigations Division took this case seriously and worked tirelessly from the moment the girl was reported missing until she was safely located.”
