HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A 21-year-old Hutchinson man facing charges associated with sexual conduct and soliciting minors entered “not guilty” pleas Monday, meaning he will face trial.
Matthew O’Keefe is accused of having sex with a 13 year old and soliciting several others.
O’Keefe was already charged with six counts of electronic solicitation, attempted aggravated indecent liberties and aggravated indecent solicitation, but the state added four more counts of aggravated solicitation, three counts of rape and six counts of aggravated indecent liberties, making this a Jessica’s Law case. There are now a total of 18 counts filed against the defendant. Each Jessica’s Law count could see him sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 25 years.
The solicitation of one of the victims started the investigation when a 13-year-old girl reported to police back on March 22 that he had solicited her for sex on Facebook. They then became involved and Detective Scott Carlton made contact with O’Keefe on the site as a 15-year-old girl and began chatting with him. They decided to meet on April 4 at Rice Park, on the city’s west side. O’Keefe showed up thinking he was going to meet the 15-year-old girl, but met police instead. O’Keefe apparently used the name John Curtis when contacting the six victims.
He remains jailed on a $250,000 bond. The case will now be set for a future pretrial hearing.