Man found in motel with 15-year-old girl

While investigating a missing person report, the Bloomington Police Department found a 20-year-old man with a minor in a motel in the 1800 block of North Walnut Street.

The man, Tanner Allen Smith of Ellettsville, Ind., faces preliminary charges of distribution of methamphetamine, two counts of sexual misconduct with a minor and a probation violation.

The methamphetamine charge is a class B felony, and the sexual misconduct charges are class D felonies.

Tuesday night the BPD responded to a call from a woman who reported her 20-year-old daughter was missing and being held against her will, BPD Sgt. Joe Crider said.

The mother provided police with her daughter’s phone number and officers were then able to trace the daughter’s location through GPS tracking to the Motel 6 on North Walnut Street.

The motel’s front desk clerk directed officers to room 400, where Smith was discovered with a 15-year-old girl.

The 20-year-old woman who was reported missing was not in the room at the time officers arrived, but her phone number was found on Smith’s phone.

Police contacted the 20-year-old on her phone, but she said she was fine, Crider said. The mother later reported her daughter had contacted her and said she was fine.

The parents of the minor were contacted, and they came to the motel.

The minor reported she had engaged in sexual relations with Smith, and she said he knew she was 15-years-old, Crider said.

She said she began a relationship with Smith three months ago, and on Jan. 31 he had provided her with methamphetamine and allowed her to use it.

Smith denied distributing methamphetamine but admitted to engaging in sexual relations with the girl. However, he said he thought she was 16 years old.

The legal age of consent in Indiana is 16, according to the United States Department of Health and Human Services.

Police obtained a search warrant and confiscated bed linens, wash cloths, towels, clothing and Smith’s cell phone for evidence, Crider said.

Smith is scheduled to appear before a judge today for a bond hearing.

— Dennis Barbosa

An earlier version of this story had an inaccurate headline. The IDS regrets this error.