Investigators say an Algonquin man groomed a child online and lured her to meet up where he repeatedly sexually abused her, with prosecutors saying the victim showed “tremendous courage” by speaking up.
Victor Hugo Agaton-Mora, 29, of Algonquin, was charged with six counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse, indecent solicitation of a child, child luring, two counts of grooming and two counts of distributing harmful material to a minor.
A criminal complaint filed in McHenry County Circuit Court alleges Agaton-Mora lured and solicited a child, who was under the age of 16, by communicating with her electronically and persuading her away from her home.
He sexually abused her in an apartment complex laundry room in the middle of the night on June 2, the complaint said, adding that the abuse also occurred later that day in the evening.
The complaint said Agaton-Mora also committed the offense of grooming by using his cellphone to seduce and solicit the victim to commit sexual conduct. The pattern occurred from June 1 to June 8.
The complaint said Agaton-Mora also distributed harmful material to the victim by sending her a sexually explicit image of himself by text message. He also allegedly sent her sexually explicit images of other people.
The Algonquin Police Department began investigating the case in early July after receiving a report that a child had been sexually abused by Agaton-Mora.
A forensic interview was conducted with the child and detectives learned that Agaton-Mora and the child had communicated through Snapchat and TextNow, prosecutors said.
Detectives obtained search warrants for Agaton-Mora’s Snapchat and TextNow accounts.
Investigators uncovered “extensive” sexually explicit text and phone communications between Agaton-Mora and the victim, prosecutors said.
The investigation also revealed that those communications culminated in Agaton-Mora meeting with the child and engaging in sexual conduct on multiple occasions in June, prosecutors said.
The McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office filed a petition to detain Agaton-Mora after his arrest.
McHenry County Judge Cynthia Lamb granted the request and ordered Agaton-Mora held in the McHenry County Jail.
McHenry County State’s Attorney Randi Freese said she commends the victim for her bravery and the Algonquin Police Department for its investigation.
“This child showed tremendous courage by speaking up about what was happening. Because they found the strength to come forward, Algonquin detectives were able to uncover critical digital evidence and act upon it. We will stand with this child and fight to hold those who prey on children accountable,” Freese said.
Agaton-Mora is scheduled to appear in court again on September 3.