Man Pleads Guilty After Multiple Charges, Including Sexual Misconduct
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WESTFIELD — A man who authorities claim used Snapchat to prey on a 12-year-old girl and persuade her into meeting up has been sentenced for raping her in the back of his car parked in Grand Park.
According to police, the victim was one of several that the guy sought to recruit.
Benjamin Rollo, 21, pleaded guilty Thursday in Hamilton County Court to child molestation, sexual misconduct with a minor, and possessing child pornography. Several additional felony counts were dismissed, and Rollo was sentenced to 16 years in jail and two years on probation.
Rollo faces allegations stemming from a July 2022 incident in which a 12-year-old girl was raped in the rear of a car parked at Grand Park. Rollo allegedly met the victim on Snapchat using the username “johnny.backer,” which he used to prey on young females in Hamilton County.
The girl told police that Rollo, who she nicknamed Johnny, encouraged her to slip out of a friend’s house and meet up with him. Rollo reportedly drove to the residence and picked up the “shaky and scared” youngster before transporting her to Grand Park.
The youngster said Rollo entered the rear seat of the car with her and began caressing her all over her body. She recalled Rollo removing his trousers, forcing her down into the seat, and kissing her.
Rollo then reportedly began sexually assaulting the youngster. She informed authorities that while her vision was restricted, Rollo’s removal of his pants stung and made her uncomfortable.
Police initiated an investigation into the johnny.backer Snapchat account and demanded data from both him and the victim. Even though the johnny.backer account has now been deleted, authorities were able to recover conversations exchanged between him and the victim, which contained nude images of a white guy.
Conversations between the victim and a friend revealed further details about the rape, including the fact that the guy was “way older” than the victim, did not use a condom, and did not stop when the youngster said no.
Police eventually obtained archived discussions from the johnny.backer account, which revealed that the individual behind the account was recruiting other young females in the region. One text conversation revealed that the male had solicited a 15-year-old girl for naked images. The child declined.
“I like younger girls,” the man wrote.
“ur a pedo,” the 15-year-old replied.
However, court papers reveal that the johnny.backer account was effective in approaching other young females for images. Detectives discovered multiple nude images of young females stored on the man’s Snapchat account, as well as texts in which he begged the kids for the photos.
“[One victim] advised that when she would say no, [the man] would ‘act disappointed and make me feel really guilty’,” police wrote.
Police discovered a second Snapchat account called “Ben_Rollo,” which was registered to Rollo’s phone number. On that account, police discovered texts in which he discussed the rape with the victim’s friend.
Detectives executed search warrants at Rollo’s residence in West Lafayette and brought him in for questioning. Police said Rollo quickly acknowledged having intercourse with the 12-year-old in his car but claimed it was “consensual.” He also reportedly stated that he was aware the girl was underage.
Rollo also admitted to having sex with another young female he met on Snapchat, court records reveal. He claimed meeting the 14-year-old girl online, picking her up in his car, and driving her to a Taco Bell. He initially claimed that nothing sexual had occurred, but then backtracked.
“I’m gonna be honest, we had sex,” Rollo is quoted as saying.
Detectives then arrested Rollo and began transporting him to Hamilton County Jail. While in the way, he allegedly told officers that the johnny.backer account was his and that he was afraid to use his actual identity. He also acknowledged having over 1,000 child pornography photographs saved on his phone.
Following his guilty plea Thursday in Hamilton Superior Court 1, Rollo has been sentenced to 16 years in prison. Rollo will be sentenced to two years’ probation and must register as a sex offender in Indiana after his release.
