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Indianapolis Predator Catchers group nets another Putnam County arrest

Thursday, October 17, 2024 at 10:06 PM

By Paul Gable

Luigi Padilla Guevara, 34, Indianapolis, was arrested by Roachdale officials.

A social media group aimed at catching child predators helped net another arrest recently in Putnam County. 

Luigi Padilla Guevara, 34, Indianapolis, was arrested by Roachdale officials earlier this week and faces a Level 4 felony child solicitation charge. 

The arrest comes after Indianapolis Predator Catchers began communicating with Padilla Guevara, posing as a 14 year old decoy, according to a probable cause affidavit. 

According to the affidavit, Padilla Guevara called himself "Alejandro" while communicating with the decoy via a dating app, text messages and Snapchat. 

According to the affidavit, the conversations turned sexual in nature when Padilla Guevara, who arrived at East Point Park in Bainbridge to meet the decoy, asked for nude photos after the decoy said they were 14. 

"The conversation progressed into the suspect discussing the sexual acts he wished to perform with the teen. The decoy replied back to the suspect that she did not send nude images of herself," the affidavit stated.

Padilla Guevara asked several times for images, stating he needed to see a photo to know it was not a trap, and asked the decoy if there was a park where they could make love. 

"The suspect admitted to knowing the teen decoy he was meeting was 14 years old. The suspect admitted to having conversations that were sexual in nature the teen decoy. The suspect stated that he intended to meet the teen decoy and use his TikTok as a way to inform people to avoid meeting strangers online. The suspect repeatedly stated that he was not going to have sex with the teen decoy. The suspect admitted to knowing the teen decoy was 14 years old. The suspect also admitted to having condoms in the vehicle," the affidavit said. 

In addition to the child solicitation charge, Padilla Guevara was found to have a U.S. Employment Authorization Card bearing the name of Alejandro Jose Bazalar Cervantes. 

"The suspect indicated that this identity was not truly him and that he had received this ID so that he could "work." The suspect was identified as Luigi Jose Padilla Guevara based on a passport issued by Republica Bolivariana de Venezuela. Padilla Guevara could not provide an address," the affidavit said. 

Padilla Guevara was also charged with possession/production/distribution of false government identification and operating a motor vehicle without ever obtaining a license. 

Court records show he was being held in the Putnam County Jail on a $30,000 cash bond. He is set to appear in court again on Dec. 12. 

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