Marion County attorney solicited minors for nude photos, court documents reveal

INDIANAPOLIS — An attorney with the Marion County Public Defender Agency is charged with nearly a dozen felony sex crimes for allegedly soliciting nude photographs from underage girls.

Guillermo Yanez, 23, is charged with 11 felony counts that include child exploitation, dissemination of matter harmful to minors, child solicitation and vicarious sexual gratification. Yanez’s charges range from Level 4 to Level 6 felonies.

According to court records filed this week in Marion County, the allegations came to light after they were reported by someone close to Yanez who suspected him of contacting minors on social media platforms.

Prosecutors claim Yanez used various social media platforms, including Instagram, Snapchat and Discord to engage in sexually explicit conversations with underage girls, between the ages of 11 and 15 dating back to 2022.

In one case detailed in the affidavit, prosecutors claim Yanez exchanged 22,000 chats with a 13-year-old girl believed to be located in Melbourne, Australia.

Yanez’s messages with the underage girls were so sexually explicit that despite pages of conversation transcripts being provided in the court documents, nearly none of it can be included in this report.

Experts say cases like this can serve as a wake-up call to parents everywhere, to watch what their kids are doing online.

“There are no more barriers as to who your child is talking to,” said Lisa Eicher with the Indiana Trafficking Victims Assistance Program.

Eicher said parental vigilance is critical to keeping kids safe. She encourages parents to do their best to monitor who their children are communicating with online.

“We can interact with anyone and so can our children, so stressing online safety with your youth is of paramount importance,” said Eicher.

Because online solicitation can take place anywhere at any time, Lara also urges parents to speak up if they believe their children are being victimized.

“You know you’re not going through this alone. You’re not unique. This is happening more and more, so don’t be afraid to reach out,” said Eicher.

While the Indiana State Bar Association website confirms the suspect works for the Marion County Public Defender Agency, officials at the office had no comment and wouldn’t confirm the suspect’s current employment status.

Both address and phone number linked to Yanez’s Discord account match the personal address and phone number included on Yanez’s profile on the Indiana Bar Association’s website.

The Bar Association lists Yanez as being admitted to practice law in Indiana on Oct. 9, 2024. This is around the same time the cyber tip was submitted with police first interviewing the tipster on Oct. 25, 2024.

After being confronted by police about the alleged crimes this week, Yanez declined to talk to detectives.

The suspect made his initial court hearing and was given a $7,500 bond. He has been released from jail pending trial.

If convicted of a Level 4 felony, Yanez’s most serious charge, he could face up to 12 years.