An Erlanger man pleaded guilty Tuesday to asking minors for photos using the chat function of the PlayStation game Destiny, according to the Kenton County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office.
Roger Eric Uhl, 35, pleaded guilty to three counts of use of an electronic communications system to induce a minor to commit a sexual offense.
Uhl was previously convicted in Florida for attempted molestation of a child under 12; he will now have to register as a sex offender for life.
In November 2020, a child’s parent and grandparent overheard someone with the username rogeruhl2020 making statements to the child they described as predatory, and they reported it to Homeland Security.
Homeland Security then contacted Kentucky State Police Detective Anthony Gatson, who tracked the IP address to Roger Uhl’s apartment on Short Hill Lane in Erlanger.
When confronted by investigators, Uhl admitted to soliciting photos of children online, which led to police seeking a search warrant. Police found evidence that Uhl solicited at least three different children for sex acts using his PlayStation or phone.
“This case is an important lesson for parents because it shows a child predator can be lurking on any device connected to the Internet,” Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Emily J. Arnzen said. “It’s absolutely essential children are monitored on the Internet, regardless of whether they access it by computer, phone, gaming system, or any other device. Criminals know undercover police sometimes patrol chat rooms posing as children so they’re adapting. But a watchful guardian is just as helpful as a detective.”
Uhl will be sentenced on Aug. 2.
