National manhunt for former MTV star who allegedly tried to meet a girl under 15 for sex and groom her

There is a national manhunt for Connor Smith, a former MTV star, who is wanted by authorities for allegedly trying to meet a girl under the age of 15 for sex in Illinois and groom her.

On Tuesday, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office announced that detectives obtained a nationwide arrest warrant for Smith for three felonies: traveling to meet a minor, grooming, and disseminating harmful material.

For several weeks, the 32-year-old Smith was allegedly communicating with someone who he believed to be a girl under the age of 15. However, the girl was actually an undercover detective. The operation was carried out by the Lake County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division in collaboration with the Naval Criminal Investigative Service.

Smith sent the "girl" sexually explicit photos and videos of himself, according to police. Smith then attempted to meet the "child" for sex on Feb. 9, authorities said. When Smith went to visit the "girl," detectives purportedly swooped in to apprehend him, but he was able to escape with his vehicle.

The Lake County Sheriff’s Office said Smith "indicated he would surrender himself on the arrest warrant," but he has yet to do so. A Lake County judge set Smith's bond at $1 million.

In December 2021, Smith was arrested for allegedly raping and assaulting a 16-year-old girl in Indiana.

Smith reportedly drove out of state to meet a 16-year-old girl. The victim claimed that Smith forced her to perform a sex act on him as soon as she got in his pickup truck. The girl said Smith took her to a motel room and slapped her when she refused to get undressed.

The Times of Northwest Indiana reported, "The girl told police she took off most of her clothes, and Smith pulled her by the hair into the bathroom, urinated on her and forced her to drink his urine by holding her nose, records allege."

Smith is accused of raping the girl and strangling her when she attempted to resist.

Smith was charged with felony rape, sexual battery, and two counts of criminal confinement. The charges were dismissed in September after the victim stopped communicating with law enforcement and prosecutors said they didn't have enough evidence to convict him, according to Patch.

In 2015, Smith was a reality star on Season 3 of MTV's dating show "Are You the One?" The dating show features single contestants competing to find their perfect match. Smith found his "perfect match," but the couple split up after filming the reality TV show.

Orland Park man, former MTV star wanted by policewww.youtube.com

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