Gainesville man Alex Masato Bohac charged in online exploitation case involving Texas girl

GAINESVILLE, Ga. — A 19-year-old Gainesville man is facing multiple felony charges after authorities say he groomed and exploited a 14-year-old Texas girl he met through social media.

Alex Masato Bohac was arrested Thursday, Feb. 26, when investigators with the Hall County Sheriff’s Office Internet Crimes Against Children Unit executed a search warrant at his home on Cove Overlook Road in northeastern Hall County, according to Public Information Officer BJ Williams.

Officials said agents with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s digital forensics team assisted in the search, during which electronic devices belonging to Bohac were seized.

According to investigators, Bohac and the girl began communicating online in early February. Authorities allege that at his request, the girl sent nude images to his Snapchat account.

When Bohac later requested additional photos and the girl refused, investigators say he threatened to share the images with her school if she did not comply. Authorities allege he then distributed the photos to three students and a teacher.

After learning the images had been shared, the girl reported the incident to her mother. Williams said the mother contacted the Comal County Sheriff’s Office in Texas on Feb. 6 and later reached out to the Hall County Sheriff’s Office on Feb. 9.

Bohac has been charged with 16 counts of sexual exploitation of a minor. Ten of those counts allege coercion of the victim to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing child sexual abuse material. He also faces two counts of possession of child sexual abuse material and four counts of distribution of child sexual abuse material.

In addition, he is charged with grooming a child for indecent purposes. Authorities say additional charges are expected.

Bohac remains in the Hall County Jail without bond.