Orthodox seminarian charged with solicitation of a child

(Chicago Tribune) - A 22-year-old student at a theological college in Lake County has been charged with indecent solicitation of a child, according to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.

Dario Spasic contacted someone who he thought was a 14-year-old boy Friday through a mobile social networking app, and made arrangements for a meeting at 10 p.m. the same day, according to a sheriff’s press release issued today.

Spasic had actually been communicating with a detective from the sheriff’s cybercrimes unit posing as an underage boy, authorities said. When Spasic arrived for the meeting, he was arrested, the news release said.

The sheriff’s office confirmed that Spasic is a student at St. Sava School of Theology in Libertyville, and the address the department provided for him is the same block as the school’s location. St. Sava provides religious education and trains students for the Serbian Orthodox priesthood, according to the school’s website.

A man who answered the phone at the Serbian Orthodox campus in Libertyville, identifying himself as the property manager, confirmed there is a student there by the same name but deferred further questions to another priest, who could not immediately be reached.

According to a sheriff’s press release, the man who was arrested had "requested to meet with (someone) who he believed was the 14-year-old boy" with the intent to engage in sexual activities.

Spasic remains at Lake County Jail, with bond set at $100,000.

He is scheduled to appear in court Wednesday.