Lake in the Hills man charged with federal child sex crimes

A 35-year-old Lake in the Hills man is charged with federal child sex crimes after authorities said he traveled to Kentucky four times to abuse a 15-year-old girl.

Prosecutors announced Wednesday that Kevin R. Duffy is charged with four counts of traveling in interstate commerce for the purpose of engaging in illicit sexual conduct with a minor.

According to court records, Lake in the Hills police and federal law enforcement officer opened an investigation into Duffy in August 2020 after learning Duffy had traveled to Pennsylvania in 2019 to meet with a 10-year-old he had met online.

Authorities learned that Duffy had traveled to Pennsylvania "on multiple occasions" and had spent the night at a hotel with the minor at least one occasion, according to court records.

Federal agents obtained a search warrant for Duffy's home and he was arrested Oct. 17, 2020 after a 6 a.m. raid of his home by authorities.

During the search, agents discovered a phone on his bed, according to court papers. A call log on the phone indicated Duffy had placed a "FaceTime" call at 9:30 p.m. the previous day that had lasted for nine hours. Authorities believe the call was "active at the time the search warrant was executed," according to court documents.

During a search of the home, Duffy told investigators that he was on the phone with his "girlfriend," who agents would later discover was the 15-year-old girl in Kentucky who had Duffy's number stored in her phone under the name "Hubby."

Duffy initially told investigators the girl was 18, but then said she was 17, according to the indictment. Eventually, he also admitted to having sexual contact with her, authorities charge.

Attempts to reach Duffy and his court-appointed attorney were unsuccessful.

When the 15-year-old girl in Kentucky was interviewed by investigators in November 2020, she told them she had been in communication with Duffy for two years and that Duffy had traveled to Kentucky in June, July, August and October of that year, and during each visit they had sex, according to the indictment.

Authorities also found nude photos and videos of the girl on Duffy's phone, according to court records.

If convicted, Duffy faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

The status of the case involving the 10-year-old in Pennsylvania is unknown.