La Porte County, Indiana — A 77-year-old Union Mills man was arrested following a six-week child exploitation investigation.
According to the La Porte County Sheriff’s Office, Jack G. Kriner was taken into custody after investigators allegedly gathered evidence related to child sexual trafficking and solicitation offenses.
Deputy Micah Dokmanovic was dispatched on Thursday, December 25, 2025, to a residence in the 3400 block of County Road 800 South on a reported sex offense. Authorities said representatives of an organization conducting an online operation had established contact with Kriner, who allegedly believed he was communicating with a 13-year-old juvenile.
Detective Derrick Deck later assumed the lead investigator role. Officials said additional evidence was gathered during the investigation and submitted to the La Porte County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office on Wednesday, February 4, 2026.
Probable cause was found in La Porte County Circuit Court, and an arrest warrant was issued on Thursday, February 12, 2026. Members of the Sheriff’s Office Warrants Division and the Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force took Kriner into custody without incident.
Kriner was transported to the La Porte County Jail and is charged with Promotion of Child Sexual Trafficking, a Level 3 felony; Child Solicitation, a Level 5 felony; and Inappropriate Communication with a Child While Using a Computer Network, a Class A misdemeanor.
He remains held on a $25,000 cash-only bond.
The case may draw attention from local families and students concerned about online safety.
Authorities emphasized that charges are allegations, and Kriner is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
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