INDEPENDENCE – Logan Richard Hilliard of Rockford, Illinois, was arrested on multiple felony charges January 24, 2024 based on allegations of sexually abusing a minor under age 16 last year who is from Buchanan County.
Buchanan County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested Hilliard on a warrant for three counts of third-degree sexual abuse (Class C felony), four counts for enticing a minor under age 16 (Class D felony), one count of harboring a runaway (aggravated misdemeanor) and one count of exhibiting obscene material to a minor (serious misdemeanor).
Hilliard pleaded guilty last year to two counts of Third Degree Sexual Abuse and one count of Enticing a Minor Under 16. Several other charges were dismissed as part of a guilty plea.
Hilliard was sentenced Tuesday to ten years for both counts of Sexual Abuse and five years for Enticing a Minor. Those sentences will run concurrently, meaning Hilliard will only serve up to a decade in prison.
Hilliard and the survivor originally met through Snapchat and kept in contact over a period of at least two years.
According to Lieutenant Andrew Isley of the Independence Police Department, most major social media platforms, such as Facebook or Snapchat, have parental control options that allow parents to monitor their child’s activity online.
“Parents should familiarize with platforms that their child is using, as well as any parental controls that exist,†said Lt Isley. “Parents and guardians can view their child’s profile as well as the content they share. Parents can also see who their child is communicating with on these platforms.â€
Lt. Isley suggests before letting your kids online, take some time to answer these important questions:
- Does my child understand the implications of what can happen?
- Will my child use it appropriately?
“Most parents want to say that they trust their children,†said Lt. Isley. “Rightfully so. But what we see of our children at home is the tip of the iceberg. Your child’s actions in his or her in person social circle will most likely dictate the way they act online.â€
According to Lt. Isley, the implications range from misdemeanor crimes (harassment) to sexual assault (felony).
“Children can be charged for the inappropriate use of social media.,†he said. “Children can also be victimized by those who abuse it, whether children or adults. In the countless search warrants I have done on Snapchat accounts, the average child has over 200 friends on Snapchat — How many of these friends have you met?
“If you’ve paid attention to how they act among friends, you should have an idea how they act online,†he said. “Is your child ready for social media? It’s okay if they aren’t.â€
