CT man gets 25 years for sexually abusing pre-teen girls he communicated with on Snapchat, FaceTime

A Monroe man was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison on Thursday for offenses related to his sexual abuse of three young girls, federal officials said.

Hector Torres, 34, was sentenced this week by U.S. District Judge Robert N. Chatigny in Hartford to a total of 300 months in prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release, for child exploitation offenses, the U.S. Attorney’s office said in a statement Friday.

Torres pleaded guilty March 8 to two counts of coercion and enticement of minors to engage in sexual activity and one count of production of child pornography.

According to court records, Torres used Snapchat, FaceTime and text messaging to communicate with three girls between the ages of 11 and 12. He then coerced them into sending him naked pictures of themselves and engaging in sexual activity with him, court records said.

Torres picked up the girls in his car on multiple occasions in February 2021 and brought them to a Hartford shopping plaza parking lot where each was reportedly sexually abused by him, according to court records. Torres reportedly promised to give the girls money, sneakers, vaping supplies and food if they sent him photos and engaged in sex acts with him, court records said.

In March 2021, investigators reviewed at least three videos of Torres sexually abusing the girls, according to court records.

Torres has been detained since his arrest on April 13, 2021, the U.S. Attorney’s office said.

To report cases of child exploitation, please visit www.cybertipline.com.