HAMMOND – On September 16, 2025, Rogelio Herrera Jr., 22, of Hammond, was arrested by members of the Indiana State Police on an outstanding warrant issued by the Porter County Sheriff’s Department.
This arrest resulted from an extensive investigation that originated in California. The Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office received a report that an unknown individual had been communicating with an eleven-year-old boy via multiple social media applications. The child was deemed safe, and no physical contact was ever made.
Numerous search warrants and subpoenas were issued, and several digital devices were examined as the investigation progressed. The investigation revealed that the communications originated from Indiana, and the case was transferred to the Indiana Internet Crimes Against Children Unit. A forensic examination later conducted by the Indiana State Police Digital Forensics Unit of a device recovered from the suspect revealed multiple files containing Child Sexual Abuse Materials (CSAM).
Herrera was taken into custody during a traffic stop and transported to the Porter County Jail, where he faces the following charges: three counts of possession of child pornography, Level 5 felonies, and possession of child pornography, a Level 6 felony.
Assisting in the investigation were the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office, the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office, the Indiana State Police District 13, Homeland Security Investigations, the Hammond Police Department, the Portage Police Department, and the Indiana State Police Drug Enforcement Section.
Those facing criminal charges are considered innocent until proven guilty through a fair and due legal process. Accusations alone do not imply guilt; the judicial system will evaluate the presented evidence to reach a verdict.
Please visit https://internetcrimesagainstkids.com to learn more about the efforts of the Indiana Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.
