Jacksonville, FL — A St. Augustine man, who is already a registered sex offender, now faces a mandatory minimum of 25 years in federal prison, if convicted, after being charged by a federal criminal complaint of soliciting child pornography using the internet.
WOKV first told you about the arrest of Kenneth Hanger, 46, last month, as part of Operation Rip Current, but through the US Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Florida, we've now learned his case has been moved to federal court. Court records in St. Johns County reveal the case at the county level has been closed.
Based on the criminal complaint, investigators say a St. Johns County Sheriff's Office detective reviewing Hanger's sexual offender registration info, noticed that Hanger's Facebook account did not list his true name. The detective then sent Hanger a 'friend request', posing as a 13-year-old girl.
According to the complaint, Hanger and this 'child' had multiple conversations online, but on June 1st, detectives say Hanger raised the topic of sexual activity and suggested meeting up for sex.
A few days later, investigators say Hanger again brought up meeting in person and also sent a sexual photo. The complaint says Hanger then solicited the child to send him a photo of 'her' genitalia. Hanger was arrested a short time after.
We're told in 1994, Hanger was convicted of aggravated indecent assault in Bradford County, Pennsylvania, and was required to register as a sex offender as part of his sentence.
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