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Man arraigned on sexual exploitation charges

By Jennifer Harr heraldstandard.Com 2 min read

A South Connellsville man is in Fayette County Prison, accused of sending a 12-year-old girl sexually explicit text messages.

Wayne Nicholas Hillyard, 22, of 2119 ½ S. Pittsburgh St. is charged with sexual exploitation of children, attempted sexual exploitation of children, corruption of minors and harassment. State police Trooper Craig Soltis alleged that Hillyard sent the girl text messages requesting she perform a specific sex act and send a naked photograph of herself between Jan. 1 and 21.

Police said that Hillyard was interviewed at the state police station on Jan. 21, and told authorities he knew the girl for about one year.

Soltis “asked Hillyard what his intentions were with asking a 12-year-old to send a naked photograph of her and he couldn’t explain an answer to this officer. Hillyard advised that if (the alleged victim) would send a photograph of her to him, he would have just deleted it,” according to court papers.

Police seized the phone and told Hillyard they would be executing a search warrant so they could search it further.

The alleged victim told police that Hillyard sent texts to her on her phone and on her sister’s phone about a specific sex act.

“(The girl) also advised that Hillyard sent messages about wanting to see her body and even requested her to send him a naked picture to him and he would send one back of himself,” according to the affidavit.

Hillyard told another trooper that the 12-year-old girl was “mature,” said that the conversations aroused him, and he wanted to have sex with the girl, according to police.

Magisterial District Judge Jesse Cramer arraigned Hillyard on Thursday, and committed him to prison on $7,500 bond.

His preliminary hearing is scheduled for Thursday before Magisterial District Judge Ronald Haggerty Jr.

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