EAST ST. LOUIS — A 55-year-old Highland man pleaded guilty Monday in federal court to multiple child pornography charges.

According to Southern Illinois Acting U.S. Attorney James Porter, Richard Hogg was detained by U.S. Marshals immediately

following the hearing.

An FBI analyst initially noticed evidence indicating Hogg had engaged in a sexually explicit chat with someone he believed to be a minor and had attempted to reach out to other minors to have sex.

On Feb. 3, 2015, that FBI analyst and another FBI agent interviewed Hogg at his home. He admitted in that interview to engaging in the sexually explicit chat with a 16-year-old girl. He also admitted to having images and videos depicting child pornography on his computer. The agents examined Hogg’s computer and found more than 50 video files and more than 1,200 images.

Agents also learned Hogg distributed and received files containing child pornography in the summer and autumn of 2014.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.

Hogg is being held without bond by the U.S. Marshalls. Sentencing is set for April 29 in East St. Louis Federal Court.

Together, the charges against Hogg could send him to prison for up to 90 years. If he’s released, he faces lifetime probation.