Robert Charles Hogan, 62, pleaded guilty to the use of an interstate facility - a cell phone - to attempt to persuade, induce, entice or coerce a minor to engage in sexual activity, according to court records.
"Charges arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Vian Police Department," Sheldon J. Sperling, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, said Tuesday. "In March Hogan used a cell phone to entice a minor child under the age of 12 to engage in the taking of nude photographs of the minor.
"Investigators determined that the defendant engaged in sexually explicit conversations with an 11-year-old girl. The defendant gave her gifts, including a cell phone. He also sought explicit photography and clandestine meetings with her."
Hogan was formerly convicted of two counts of rape in 1987 and received two concurrent 10-year sentences, according to Oklahoma Department of Corrections records. He was released from prison in 1991.
Vian Police Chief Danny Hoover explained after Hogan's arrest that the investigation began after the child's mother found inappropriate text messages and voice recordings on her daughter's cell phone from Hogan, who had purchased the phone for the girl. Hogan was apparently a friend of the family and was a grandfather figure to the girl, Hoover indicated.
Phone conversations between the girl and Hogan were later recorded during the police investigation, and Hogan allegedly said he would travel from Chicago to Vian to see the girl. Hoover said Hogan's idea was for Hogan and the girl to make a video.
Hoover said Hogan is a truck driver and was in Chicago at the time, but drove back to Oklahoma, rented a motel room in Gore and was driving to see the girl in Vian when he was arrested in March.
Sperling said Hogan's guilty plea was accepted, and a pre-sentencing report was ordered. Sentencing will be scheduled following the report's completion.
Hogan remains in custody, pending sentencing.
Sperling said Hogan faces 10 years to life in prison and up to $250,000 in fines.
"A preliminary calculation projects the defendant may receive a sentence of 180 months imprisonment," Sperling said.
