TALTY, Texas — A Kaufman County grand jury has indicted a 24-year-old man on 12 felony child-sex and pornographic related offenses in connection with his use of Snapchat to lure his victims, solicit nude photographs, and threaten his victims into sexual encounters.
TALTY, Texas — A Kaufman County grand jury has indicted a 24-year-old man on 12 felony child-sex and pornographic related offenses in connection with his use of Snapchat to lure his victims, solicit nude photographs, and threaten his victims into sexual encounters.
Last week, a Kaufman County grand jury indicted 24-year-old Taylor Craft on two counts of sexual assault of a child, two counts of online solicitation of a minor, four counts of publish or threaten to publish intimate visual material, three counts of possession of child pornography, and one count of aggravated sexual assault of a child.
In a press release today, the Kaufman County Sheriff's Office says they have identified more than 15 victims in the case.
"It is our belief, based on the volume of photographs that were in Craft's possession; there are many other victims who have yet to be identified," read the release.
Kaufman County Sheriff's Office Investigators and the Texas Rangers are requesting the public's assistance identifying any other children or teens that may have been contacted online or victimized by Craft. Anyone with information is asked to contact Kaufman County Sheriff's Office Investigator Jimmy Weisbruch at (972) 932-9735. You may also submit a tip to www.KaufmanCountyCrimeStoppers.org.
In addition to Craft's charges in Kaufman County, he faces two counts of sexual assault of a child in Dallas County and online solicitation of a minor by sexual conduct and sexual performance by a child younger than 14 years of age in Rockwall County.
Investigators believe Craft created and used a fictitious Snapchat account, under a female's name to gain the confidence of his victims and, overtime, would convince them to meet himself. Craft would then threaten to expose the nude photos he had obtained if the victim refused his sexual advances.
The investigation into Craft originated in Rocky Hill, Connecticut, where investigators there say Craft contacted and attempted to solicit nude photographs via Snapchat from an underage female in their jurisdiction.