Florida man wanted for child molestation arrested during Indiana traffic stop: sheriff

By Fox 32 Digital Staff
Published  May 29, 2025 9:03pm CDT
FOX 32 Chicago
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The Brief

    • Yohan Ponce Riera, 39, of Ocala, Fla., was stopped by a Lake County Sheriff's officer for following too closely and failing to maintain the lane of travel on Wednesday at 11:30 a.m.
    • The officer later learned Riera was wanted by Miami-Dade County in Florida for sexual battery of a minor and child molestation.
    • Officers also found 16 kilos of cocaine and 50 pounds of meth in a cooler and suitcase inside the vehicle.

WESTVILLE, Ind. - A Florida man wanted for child molestation was arrested during a traffic stop in Lake County, Indiana, authorities said.

What we know:

Yohan Ponce Riera, 39, of Ocala, Fla., was stopped by a Lake County Sheriff's officer for following too closely and failing to maintain the lane of travel on Wednesday at 11:30 a.m. on eastbound I-90 near Westville, IN.

The officer later learned Riera was wanted by Miami-Dade County in Florida for sexual battery of a minor and child molestation, according to the sheriff's office.

(Lake County Sheriff's Department)
(Lake County Sheriff’s Department)
Florida man wanted for child molesting arrested, police say (Lake County Sheriff )

Officers also found 16 kilos of cocaine and 50 pounds of meth in a cooler and suitcase inside the vehicle.

What we don't know:

Further details of the former offense are unknown at this time.

What's next:

Federal charges are still pending.

The Source

  • The information in this article was provided by the Lake County Sheriff's Office. 

Crime and Public SafetyLake CountyIndiana