Portland man attempted to meet 14-year-old girl for sexual purposes, police say

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – An accused child predator was arrested in Northwest Portland on Tuesday after he allegedly tried to meet up with a 14-year-old girl with the intention to take her home with him, officials said.

Samuel Digiovanni had been chatting with an undercover officer posing as the girl online “for several weeks using a social media app” before moving to texting and planning to meet at a local park, according to Portland police.

Portland police say they were tipped off by the FBI after Digiovanni was caught chatting on a social media app called “Meet Me” with who he thought was a 14-year-old-girl living outside of Oregon.

“It’s very disturbing,” Sgt. Davis Kile said. “But knowing that the police bureau has invested these resources to investigate these cases and make these arrests is what makes us all feel good at the end of the day, "

Digiovanni faces charges of luring a minor, first-degree online sexual corruption of a child, third-degree attempted rape, third-degree attempted sodomy, and attempted use of a child in display of sexually explicit conduct.

Investigators ask anyone with information about Digiovanni to contact Portland police.