A warrant for the arrest of former MTV reality star Connor N. Smith has been issued by Lake County, Illinois. The 32-year-old is wanted on three serious charges, including grooming, dissemination of harmful material, and traveling to meet a minor.
According to the Lake County Sheriff’s Department, Smith communicated with a female undercover detective who was posing as a minor under the age of 15. The former cast member of “Are You The One?” sent sexually explicit images and videos of himself to the “child” and arranged to meet her for a sexual encounter. The Sheriff’s department stated that Smith had been in communication with the “girl” for several weeks.
On February 9, Smith drove to a predetermined location under the assumption he was meeting the “girl”. However, upon his arrival, detectives moved in to apprehend him, but the former reality star managed to evade capture and fled the scene in his vehicle. A nationwide warrant has been filed for Smith, with a Lake County judge setting bond on the warrant at $1 million.
This is not the first time Smith has faced accusations of inappropriate behavior with a minor. In 2021, he was arrested and charged with sexual battery, and two counts of criminal confinement, according to court documents obtained by Us Weekly. However, these charges were dropped in September 2022. An attorney for Smith stated that the dismissal was a step in the right direction, but their client still has a long road ahead to repair the damage caused by these false allegations.
The Sheriff’s office has released photos of Smith and his vehicle in the hope that he will be located soon. If seen, the public is advised not to approach him but to contact local law enforcement immediately.