Authorities in St. Joseph County say a local resident has been arrested on serious charges out of California. 

California police contacted the county’s Warrants Division after 37-year-old Tracy Lawless, a Mishawaka resident, allegedly contacted a minor and arranged for her to travel to Indiana.

Once California officials secured an arrest warrant, local deputies working with the U.S. Marshals, FBI, the Special Victims Unit and Mishawaka police tracked Lawless to a home on Home Street where he was taken into custody without incident.

He’s being held at the St. Joseph County Jail on charges including human trafficking, sexual offenses with a minor and child exploitation, pending extradition to California.