According to Montgomery County police, for approximately three months, a 12-year-old female Bethesda resident had an online and cellular phone relationship with a man later identified as 23 year-old Nathan Samuel Portnoy of Emilys Lane in Falls Church.
The juvenile victim portrayed herself as an adult during online conversations with Portnoy. Police say after several phone calls during which Portnoy discussed sexual intercourse with the victim, he suggested they meet. On Aug. 24, the victim and Portnoy met and played soccer at a park near the victim’s home in Bethesda. Portnoy suggested that the two go to dinner and the victim entered Portnoy’s vehicle. After a short distance, at the request of the victim, Portnoy stopped the vehicle and the victim exited. Family members of the victim, who were driving in the area at the time, observed the victim exiting Portnoy’s vehicle and began to follow his vehicle. Portnoy pointed a gun at the family members through the back window of his vehicle. At that time, the family members stopped following Portnoy and called police.
The Family Crimes Division-Pedophile Section began to investigate the case An arrest warrant was obtained charging Portnoy with first degree assault, kidnapping of a child under 16, and sexual solicitation of a minor. On Aug. 25 Portnoy was arrested. On Aug. 30, a search warrant was executed on Portnoy’s vehicle and evidence included a loaded handgun, ammunition, gun holsters, handcuffs, zip ties, rope, a black ski mask, and several boxes of condoms. With bail set at $300,000, Portnoy remains in custody. Police continue to investigate the possibility of Portnoy’s involvement in other crimes.
