Wonder Lake man charged after traveling to meet detective posing as 14-year-old

A Wonder Lake man was charged Monday with indecent solicitation of a child after allegedly communicating with someone he thought was a 14-year-old girl and then traveling to meet her, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office said Wednesday.

Aaron C. Cornelius, 36, of the 4200 block of East Wonder Lake Drive, Wonder Lake, was met by detectives with the office’s Special Investigations Group when he drove Monday to Warren Township, according to a news release.

The Lake County Sheriff’s Office said Cornelius thought he was meeting a 14-year-old girl for sexual activity. The person he was communicating with on an electronic social networking application was really an undercover detective.

“Children are some of our most vulnerable and we work tirelessly to proactively protect them,” Sheriff John D. Idleburg said in a statement. “In the era of technology, I strongly recommend all parents and guardians monitor your children’s electronic use and have serious conversations about the risks of online predators.”

Cornelius was arrested and transported to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office. He has been charged with indecent solicitation of a child and traveling to meet a minor.

He remains held in the Lake County Jail on $750,000 bail. He is next due in court on Friday.