Recently, detectives with the Union County Sheriff’s Office Special Victims Unit concluded another online child exploitation investigation with the arrest of a previously convicted sex offender, 44-year-old Geronimo Hogan of Monroe.

During the investigation, detectives determined that Hogan was using unreported social media accounts to communicate with someone he believed to be a 14-year-old girl living in Union County. As a registered sex offender, Hogan is required to report all online identifiers to the Sheriff’s Office as part of his registration requirements.

What Hogan didn’t realize was that the "14-year-old girl" he thought he was messaging was, in fact, a UCSO detective. During their conversations, Hogan solicited the child for various sexual acts and arranged to meet at a local library. When Hogan arrived at the agreed-upon location, UCSO detectives were waiting and immediately took him into custody.

Hogan was arrested and transported to the Union County Detention Center, where he was charged with Solicitation of a Child by a Computer and a Sex Offender Registry Violation. He is currently being held under a secured bond of $500,000.

Sheriff Eddie Cathey commends the outstanding work of the Criminal Investigations Bureau for their continued dedication to protecting the most vulnerable members of our community. Their proactive efforts help ensure that predators like Hogan are removed from our streets and that the children and families of Union County remain safe.