A former MTV star has been arrested in Florida on child sex crime charges following a nationwide investigation that began in Illinois and lasted more than a year.
On Thursday afternoon, law enforcement tracked down Connor Smith at a residence in Clearwater, Florida.
Smith, 33, was arrested by Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office officers on an outstanding warrant out of Lake County, Illinois. The warrant was issued in February 2023.
Smith, of Orland Park, Illinois, was booked into the Pinellas County Jail and is being held without bail. Smith is awaiting extradition to Illinois.
As Blaze News previously reported, Lake County Sheriff’s Office Detectives announced they had obtained a nationwide arrest warrant for Smith.
The former MTV star was charged with three felonies: traveling to meet a minor, grooming and disseminating harmful material.
Authorities say Smith groomed girls under the age of 15 in Illinois and tried to meet them for sex.
Police said Smith communicated with someone believed to be a girl under the age of 15 over several weeks. However, the girl’s true identity is an undercover investigator.
The catfish was part of a sting operation conducted by the Lake County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigation Division in conjunction with the Naval Criminal Investigative Service to capture child predators.
Smith reportedly sent the “girl” sexually explicit photos and videos of himself.
Smith allegedly attempted to meet the “girl” on February 9, 2023 for a sexual relationship. Detectives attempted to arrest Smith when he went to meet the “girl,” but Smith was able to evade authorities.
In December 2021, Smith was arrested in Indiana on charges of rape and assault of a 16-year-old girl. Smith was charged with felony rape, sexual assault, and two counts of criminal confinement.
However, the charges were dropped after the alleged victim stopped cooperating with investigators and prosecutors said there was not enough evidence to convict him.
Smith’s claim to fame is on the third season of MTV’s reality series “Are You The One?” In this dating show, single participants compete to find their perfect match.
Smith found his “perfect match,” but the couple broke up after filming the reality show.
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