La Porte County, Indiana – A 34-year-old man was arrested on felony sex-trafficking charges following an investigation involving a teenage victim.
According to the La Porte County Sheriff’s Office, Joseph A. Yaw was taken into custody this morning by members of the Warrants Division and the Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force.
Investigators say the case began on Sunday, Jan. 12, when an adult female and her 13-year-old niece came to the sheriff’s office to report that the teen had received allegedly inappropriate messages. Detective Alex Pishkur conducted initial interviews with both the adult and the juvenile before opening a criminal investigation.
Authorities said detectives spent several weeks gathering evidence related to the allegations. During that time, investigators also executed search warrants connected to the case.
On Monday, Feb. 17, Detective Pishkur submitted the investigation to the La Porte County Prosecutor’s Office for review. Prosecutors later determined that probable cause existed, and the La Porte County Circuit Court issued a felony arrest warrant for Yaw on Sunday, March 9, according to the sheriff’s office.
Yaw was transported to the La Porte County Jail and booked on the following charges:
- Promotion of Sex Trafficking — Level 3 Felony
- Child Solicitation — Level 5 Felony
- Inappropriate Communication with a Child — Class A Misdemeanor
Authorities said Yaw remains held at the La Porte County Jail on a $25,000 cash-only bond through circuit court.
The investigation was assisted by Detectives Derrick Deck and Joe Walker, according to the sheriff’s office.
Cases involving alleged online communication with minors often raise safety concerns for families, students, and young people who frequently use social media and messaging platforms.
The investigation remains part of the county’s ongoing efforts to address crimes involving minors and online exploitation.
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