Orland Man Allegedly Tried Setting Up Craigslist Sex Date With Teen

An Orland Park man charged with trying to set up a sex date with a teenage girl advertising her availability on Craigslist broke down in tears as a Will County judge set his bond at $50,000.

Michael Portillo, 29, of 9040 Kennedy Court, was jailed Wednesday on charges of traveling to meet a minor, grooming and soliciting a child over the Internet.

Portillo stumbled into a trap the police laid by placing an ad on Craigslist under the name Laura Massa, who was supposedly a 16-year-old with "free time this week" and in "need (of) excitement," said Assistant State's Attorney Donna Hanson.

Portillo responded to the ad and acknowledged that he believed he was communicating with a 16-year-old girl, Hanson said. He then emailed photographs of his face and his penis, she said.

The police convinced Portillo that he was going to meet the teen at a Tinley Park Taco Bell so they could have sex, Hanson said. When he arrived and met up with the law instead of a girl, Portillo told them he "made a mistake" and was "thinking with my d---," she said.

Judge Roger Rickmon asked Portillo how much he could post for bond. Portillo told the judge, "I have nothing. I have $8 to my name."

A man who identified himself as Portillo's brother attended the hearing. When Portillo told Judge Rickmon he makes $12.50 an hour working at a doctor's office, the brother said, "Your honor, he's been fired."

The brother also became emotional during the hearing. In a plea for sympathy, he told the judge about Portillo's child.

"Your honor, he has a 1-year-old at home," he said.

Rickmon forbade Portillo from being alone with his child if he gets out of jail.

"I don't want him around any children, even his own, without another adult present," the judge said.

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