A man has been charged after allegedly using a texting app to send sexually explicit messages to a 12-year-old girl whom he later tried to meet for sex, Howard County police said.
Investigators said Vincent Paul Hill, 21, of Upper Marlboro, communicated with the victim through the Kik messenger app, which does not require the use of cell phone numbers. She told police she had received messages and photos from a user named "Vinc Hill." Officers took over the girl's account and said that over a two day period, he continued to send messages and pictures, along with enough information that they could identify him as Vincent Paul Hill.
Police said Hill asked her to cut school and meet him at the Harper's Choice Village Center, where officers were waiting and arrested him.
Hill, of Lake Forest Drive, is charged with one count of solicitation of a minor. He was later released on $75,000 bond.
Kik offers instant messaging of texts, photos and other content, which authorities said is appealing to kids because it does not require the use cell phone numbers, so contact information cannot be tracked by parents like text messaging through a cell phone carrier.
In November, a Perry Hall student went missing after communicating with her alleged kidnapper through Kik, police said. She later turned up unharmed in North Carolina.
Police said app requests that users should be at least 17-years-old, but proof of age is not required.
Anyone who might have been solicited by Hill is asked to call police at 410-313-7867
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