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Last updated on Wednesday, June 7, 2017
(BLOOMFIELD) - A Bloomfield man was arrested Monday after police say he engaged in sexual conversations with a minor.
Greene County Police arrested 30-year-old Rodney Hughes on a warrant charging him with three counts of child solicitation, Level 5 felonies. He was held on a $30,000 bond with 10 percent allowed. He posted $3,000 the same day and was released. His initial hearing is scheduled for June 21 at 9 a.m.
According to Greene County Circuit Court probably cause affidavit, a detective and a Child Services case manager met the victim and the victim's guardian on April 26.
The child had received flowers at school on Thursday, April 20. The guardian told police the card with the flowers had been blank, but the adult contacted the flower shop and found that Hughes had sent the flowers. That is also when she learned her children and Hughes had been text messaging to each other on their phones.
The minor told police she had met Hughes on Facebook in December of 2016. The two started off as friends, but the relationship soon turned sexual in nature. Hughes had told the victim that he was 21-years-old but soon found out he was 30. The teen also says Hughes knew she was a minor.
The victim also reportedly admitted to sending face and nude pictures to Hughes. Hughes allegedly sent pictures of himself in underwear to the minor as well, but the minor was instructed to delete all images and to download an app called Hangout so they could talk.
The minor told police that after receiving pictures from Hughes he would talk "dirty" and ask for nude photos which the victim refused to send.
Hughes then asked the minor if they would be willing to perform sexual acts with him.
When police spoke to Hughes, he said he had met the minor on Facebook and they were just friends. He stated he would give the victim advice on sports and family issues.
Hughes says he sent flowers to the victim after learning the victim was having a hard day.
Hughes denied sending any sexual photos or messages to the victim.
However when police took Hughes phone they discovered he had changed the SIM Card.
An examination of the minor's phone showed conversation between the victim and Hughes from Jan. 1, 2017. On Feb. 13, texts showed Hughes did request sexual pictures of the minor, followed by texting in a sexual manner.
On March 8, Hughes reportedly referenced "Romeo and Juliet" in regards to their age difference.
On March 9, a text reportedly revealed Hughes asking the minor for a video of him/her touching their body, to which the minor complied. A sexual video was on the minor's phone which was created the same date.
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