A sentencing in Hamilton County has caught the attention of locals as Benjamin Owen Rollo, a 21-year-old man, was found guilty of sexually exploiting and assaulting a 12-year-old he connected with on Snapchat. Rollo was sentenced to 16 years in prison followed by two years of probation, as per details from an CBS4 Indy. The victim, who faced her assailant in the back of his car at Grand Park in Westfield, was apparently not the only one; police allege Rollo attempted to solicit potentially dozens of teens.
In court proceedings today, Rollo pleaded guilty to child molestation, sexual misconduct with a minor, and possession of child pornography. Following the plea, several other felony charges were dropped. The case, which has sparked discussions on the predatory use of social media apps, "Tell the cops it wasn't rape," Rollo reportedly urged the victim, according to information obtained by FOX59.
As part of his sentence, Rollo will be registered as a sex offender to help prevent future crimes and inform the community. However, it's important to remember that legal penalties do not undo the harm done to victims.
