By Liz Shepherd
InkFreeNews

Chancey R. Zile

COLUMBIA CITY — A Columbia City man was recently arrested after an online organization which works to expose child predators allegedly caught him having inappropriate conversations with a child.

Chancey R. Zile, 24, 415 E. Raleigh Court, Columbia City, is charged with three counts of child solicitation, all level 5 felonies.

On Dec. 16, 2022, a Columbia City Police officer went to Walmart regarding representatives with Bikers Against Predators meeting with a man who had inappropriate conversations with an individual he believed was a minor.

According to court documents, a BAP representative told the officer Zile had conversations with an individual posing as a 14-year-old girl. The discussions between Zile and the decoy were sexual in nature, with Zile sending inappropriate pictures during the conversations.

In an interview with police, Zile said he was talking with who he believed was a 14-year-old girl and admitted to making inappropriate statements during the conversations.

Upon searching Zile’s phone, officers found the conversations between Zile and the decoy. They also discovered thousands of files containing pornography, including eight files which appeared to depict individuals under the age of 18.

Zile was booked in the Whitley County Jail on June 14.