A 20-year-old Springfield man is facing a felony charge after investigators say he had sexual contact with a 14-year-old girl he met on social media. Hunter Knotts has been indicted in Clark County Municipal Court on one count of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, according to court records. Investigators say the two first connected online and messaged on Snapchat and TikTok before an alleged in-person encounter earlier this year.
What investigators allege
According to a probable cause affidavit filed in Clark County Municipal Court, interviewers at the Clark County Child Advocacy Center learned that Knotts and the girl had been messaging on Snapchat for two to three months before switching their conversations to TikTok. The affidavit states that on Jan. 17 or 18, Knotts allegedly picked the girl up from her mother’s house and took her to his residence in Springfield.
The indictment lists the alleged sexual contact as occurring on or about Feb. 17. Investigators later went to the Champaign County Sheriff’s Office on March 9 and obtained the girl’s phone. Detectives reported finding a sexually explicit message on the device that they say included an admission that the two had intercourse, as reported by the Springfield News-Sun.
What Ohio law says
Under Ohio Revised Code § 2907.04, unlawful sexual conduct with a minor covers sexual conduct between an adult and a person who is 13 to 15 years old. The offense is typically a fourth-degree felony, though it can be elevated depending on the circumstances laid out in the statute. Sentencing ranges for this and other felony levels are detailed in Ohio Revised Code § 2929.14.
Case status and local resources
Knotts has been formally charged, and the case remains pending in Clark County. An indictment is a formal allegation, not a conviction, and he is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
The Clark County Child Advocacy Center, which conducts forensic interviews and coordinates services for children in reported abuse cases, handled the interview in this investigation, according to county information. Anyone with tips or concerns about possible child abuse or exploitation can contact local law enforcement or the Clark County Department of Job & Family Services for guidance on reporting and available support.
