Ohio Man Drove To Lake County To Meet 'Child' For Sex: Sheriff

LAKE COUNTY, IL — An Ohio man drove to Lake County to meet up with an underage girl for sexual purposes, according to the Lake County Sheriff's Office. Zachary S. Clemens, 38, of Dublin, Ohio, is accused of attempted aggravated criminal sexual abuse, indecent solicitation of a child, traveling to meet a minor, grooming, unlawful possession of a controlled substance, all felonies. He was arrested Monday.

Clemens, who is due in court Tuesday, is currently being held in the Lake County Jail.

The LCSO's Special Investigations Group worked with the Naval Criminal Investigative Service on the investigation and subsequent arrest.

Police said Clemens had been communicating with an undercover detective online, who was posing as a girl under the age of 14. During the conversations, Clemens allegedly sent nude photos of himself to who he believed was the young child.

According to police, Clemens had created a plan to drive over 300 miles from his home state to meet the "girl" and engage in sex. He went through with the plan on Monday and when he arrived locally, he was met by police.

During the subsequent arrest, police said they found cocaine on Clemens.

"Our Special Investigations Group identified and stopped another person from being able to meet a child for sexual purposes," Lake County Sheriff John Idleberg said. "This time, the person drove over 300 miles to try and meet who he thought was a child. We have zero tolerance for those preying on our most vulnerable and will exhaust all efforts to identify and arrest those who try."