A Valparaiso area man has been charged for his illegal presence multiple times at a Valparaiso daycare and preschool property, violating the terms of his status as a registered sexually violent predator.
Samuel Vega, 45, is charged with a Level 6 felony of unlawful entry by a serious sex offender, according to charging documents.
Vega was convicted in 1999 in Brazos County, Texas, for indecency with a child, who was 12 at the time. He was convicted in February 2024 on a charge of sexual battery in neighboring Lake County.
As a result of both convictions, Vega is registered as a lifetime sexually violent predator, an offender against children, and a serious sex offender, who must report every 90 days to the Porter County Sheriff’s Office.
On July 6, the Porter County Sheriff’s Office had received a tip that Vega had been seen at the Growing Kids Learning Center, 3400 N. Campbell Street, in Valparaiso, a daycare and preschool facility.
A subsequent investigation found that Vega and his girlfriend have four children placed there between the ages of 3 and 8, according to a probable cause statement filed in Porter County Superior Court.
Video footage evidence recovered from the learning center showed that Vega had entered the building on four occasions between July 3 and July 29. There were also a number of other times Vega was at the center with his girlfriend, court records show.
On July 29, Vega arrived at the Porter County Sheriff’s Office for his 90-day photo update.
Capt. Larry Sheets of the Porter County Sheriff’s Office confronted Vega and asked him if he had been at the Growing Kids Learning Center.
Vega denied he had been there, but said his fiancée did go to the center. He then told the sheriff’s captain that he had been on the center’s grounds, but never inside.
Sheets then said there were cameras at the building and Vega admitted he had been inside the building, but didn’t realize it was a school. Vega apologized and stated that he wouldn’t return to the Growing Learning Center, the court record shows.
Vega is in the Porter County Jail. Bond has been set at $50,000 cash.
Jim Woods is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.