A Crystal Lake man has been sentenced to 15 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to using Snapchat to solicit underage girls and sexual abuse them, prosecutors said.
Joshua Dancy, 24, of the 900 block of Sheffield Drive in Crystal Lake, pleaded guilty to soliciting child pornography, possessing child pornography and multiple counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse.
McHenry County Judge Robert Wilbrandt sentenced Dancy to 15 years in prison Tuesday after Dancy accepted a plea deal from the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office.
The Crystal Lake Police Department launched an investigation in May after receiving reports that Dancy engaged in sexual intercourse with two minors, prosecutors said.
Police discovered two additional victims after a search of Dancy’s cell phone revealed video and images of child pornography, prosecutors added.
Crystal Lake Deputy Police Chief Thomas Kotlowski said at the time of Dancy’s arrest that the man came into contact with the victims through Snapchat and other social media around November 2018.
“Through that communication, Dancy gained the trust of the minors and obtained several sexually-oriented nude images of victims,” Kotlowski said, adding “Evidence of sexual conduct between Dancy and the minors were developed during the investigation.”
Dancy will be required to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life after his release from prison.
The case was investigated by Detective Mattson and other members of the Crystal Lake Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Susanne Groebner of the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office.