Rocky Hill Police Help Snag Suspected Texas 'Sexual Predator'

ROCKY HILL, CT — An investigation in Rocky Hill has turned out to be a factor in the indictment in Texas of what police are calling a suspected online sexual predator.

Rocky Hill police said they became involved in the case last August, when they responded to an local address to investigate a "harassment complaint directed at a juvenile."

A local girl had been receiving "inappropriate messages" on her cell phone and notified her parents. The parents suspected the person at the other end was a sexual predator after nude pictures of the girl wwere requested, according to a report.

The girl told police it all started when a Snapchat message request showed up from someone she thought was a female high school student in Connecticut, according to a report. The person then requested nude pictures of the girl in exchange for nude pictures of "male genitalia," according to a report.

Local police traced the messages to an IP address in Kaufman County, Texas, and contacted the Kaufman County Sheriff's Office. In March, the Kaufman County Sheriff's Office said it had located a suspect — a 24-year-old male named Taylor Blake Craft.

Two arrest warrants were drafted for possession or promotion of child pornography and multiple warrants were issued for either sexual assault or aggravated sexual assault, according to a report. An additional six warrants are also "in the works," police said.

Authorities have identified more than 15 victims, but believe there may be more, police said.

A Texas grand jury charged Craft with 12 felony offenses on May 31st. He also has charges pending in Dallas and Rockwall counties.

He is being held on a $2.2 million bond, police said.