Crystal Lake man accused of sharing sexually explicit photos, messages on Snapchat with Texas girl, 13

A Crystal Lake man is accused of sharing “sexually explicit” images and messages with a 13-year-old child in Texas over Snapchat.

Juan Rodriguez-Figueroa, 20, is charged with three counts of possessing images of child sex abuse, which are Class X felonies, and grooming, according to the criminal complaint filed in McHenry County court.

Should he be convicted on a Class X felony, he could face up to 30 years in prison.

During Rodriguez-Figueroa’s first appearance hearing Friday, Assistant State’s Attorney Julio Cantre argued that the defendant is a danger to the child in question and “any child on Snapchat” and should be detained in the county jail pretrial.

“His appetite ... is so strong and so powerful it’s clear he should not be released. He would go right back to cultivating relationships with children,” Cantre said.

From March to October, Rodriguez-Figueroa engaged in “ongoing deception to cultivate this relationship” with a 13-year-old child in a small Texas town, Cantre said. Rodriguez-Figueroa was 19 when he began communicating with the girl and had lied to her about his age, saying he was 16.

“He knew it was wrong,” Cantre said, adding that Rodriguez-Figueroa had changed his Snapchat name and changed his phone to hide what he was doing.

Assistant Public Defender Gene Wilson argued for Rodriguez-Figueroa’s release, saying that he has not tried to contact the girl since Oct. 2 and he has no criminal history. He was not trying to be deceptive when he changed his Snapchat name and bought a new phone, Wilson said. The public defender also said there is no evidence Rodriguez-Figueroa tried to contact any other children.

The investigation began after a cyber tip was reported to police. Detectives allegedly found 50 media files with images of the child in “lewd poses,” the prosecutor said. Rodriguez-Figueroa asked the child for sexually explicit photos, told her what he wanted her to do and sent photos of himself to her, Cantre said.

Judge Carl Metz II said he read 11 pages of “rather graphic, detailed communication” between Rodriguez-Figueroa and the girl.

“The proof is evident he” committed the alleged offenses, the judge said, but Metz added there is no proof that Rodriguez-Figueroa couldn’t be released safely with conditions.

Metz released the defendant from jail with conditions including that he have no access to the internet. He must refrain from communicating with the girl or any other children and allow court services into his home to put monitoring software on all electronics. Rodriguez-Figueroa also is not to leave the state, and if he gets another phone, it must be a flip phone, Metz said.

Rodriguez-Figueroa is due in court Jan. 9.