Man accused of sexually assaulting girl, 13, in Limerick
PHILADELPHIA » A Michigan man faces charges in federal and county courts after he allegedly manufactured child pornography while engaging in text communications with a teenage Montgomery County girl who he then met and sexually assaulted at a Limerick Township hotel.
Mark Allen Hillis, 57, of Southgate, Mich., was charged in U.S. District Court in Philadelphia with manufacture of child pornography, attempted manufacture of child pornography and willfully causing the manufacture of child pornography stemming from his alleged communications with a 13 year-old girl in December 2019.
“As alleged in the criminal complaint, the defendant’s conduct is abhorrent: manipulating a child into sending him graphic images and then luring her from home in the middle of the night in order to commit a sexual assault to satisfy his twisted desires,” U.S. Attorney William M. McSwain said this week. “Protecting children and seeking justice for those who are victims of sexual exploitation is one of my office’s highest priorities and we will always aggressively investigate and prosecute cases such as this.”
Federal authorities alleged Hillis met the girl through a social media site and then directed her to produce and send him graphic images of herself via text messages. Hillis allegedly then traveled to Montgomery County and sexually assaulted the girl in a hotel room, after convincing her to meet up with him at a pizzeria in the middle of the night, federal prosecutors alleged.
In addition to the federal child pornography charges, Hillis faces separate charges in county court related to the alleged Dec. 30, 2019, sexual assault in Limerick. According to court records, those sexual assault charges against Hillis were filed by Limerick police on Dec. 31.
The local investigation began Dec. 30 when Limerick police received information that a 13-year-old girl received medical attention at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia as a result of a sexual assault, according to a criminal complaint. The investigation determined the girl had been assaulted at the Hampton Inn located on West Linfield Trappe Road, according to the arrest affidavit.
Subsequently, the girl was interviewed by child social workers and revealed that she had become involved in an “on-line” relationship with a man she knew only as “Mark,” according to the criminal complaint filed by Limerick Detective Christopher Iochum. The pair began communicating through group chats on YouTube and eventually began text messaging directly with each other, authorities alleged.
During the text messaging, Hillis solicited photographs and videos of the girl, “including naked images of her body,” Iochum alleged in court papers. Hillis also allegedly sent the girl photos and videos of his body parts.
The girl told detectives that she informed Hillis that she was 13 years old, court papers alleged.
On Dec. 29 and into the morning of Dec. 30, Hillis met the girl at a pizza shop near her home and the pair then drove to the Hampton Inn where Hillis alleged sexually assaulted the girl in a hotel room. After the sexual encounter at the hotel, Hillis drove the girl back to the pizza shop and dropped her off, according to the criminal complaint.
On Dec. 31, Limerick police were contacted by a representative from the hotel advising that Hillis had checked back into the hotel, court papers indicate. Limerick police then tracked Hillis to a car wash on North Lewis Road and he was subsequently taken into custody.
During questioning by detectives, Hillis allegedly admitted to meeting the girl online and to taking her to the hotel, according to the criminal complaint.
After an April 27 preliminary hearing, Hillis was ordered to face trial in county court on charges of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, statutory sexual assault, unlawful contact with a minor, aggravated indecent assault, corruption of a minor and indecent assault in connection with the alleged Dec. 30 incident.
Court records indicate Hillis is being held in jail in lieu of $1 million bail while awaiting trial.
Hillis faces a formal arraignment in county court on the Limerick charges on June 17.
If convicted of the sexual assault related charges in county court, Hillis potentially faces decades in prison.
If convicted of the child porn related charges in federal court, Hillis faces a maximum sentence of 30 years’ imprisonment and a fine up to $250,000.
“This arrest demonstrates the great lengths that dangerous child predators will go through to victimize our most vulnerable,” said Brian A. Michael, Special Agent in Charge for Homeland Security Investigations in Philadelphia.
The investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations, a component of the federal Department of Homeland Security, and the Limerick Township Police Department, in conjunction with the Montgomery County Detective Bureau. The federal case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathryn Deal.
The county case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Bridget Gallagher.
“As alleged in the criminal complaint, the defendant’s conduct is abhorrent: manipulating a child into sending him graphic images and then luring her from home in the middle of the night in order to commit a sexual assault to satisfy his twisted desires.”
— U.S. Attorney William M. McSwain