DC man who contacted 11-year-old girl on Instagram found guilty of sexual abuse

WASHINGTON - A Washington, D.C. man has been found guilty of sexually abusing an 11-year-old girl he met through Instagram.

The man, known as Robert Kelsey, was 26 at the time, and posed as a 19-year-old on Instagram when he met an 11-year-old girl online. The two then began communicating through the app Kik Messenger, according to officials. According to a press release, Kelsey flirted with the 11-year-old and told her that he wanted to have sex with her.

On July 25, 2014 Kelsey picked up the girl from her summer camp Bowie, Maryland and told camp staff he was her cousin, in order to take her from camp early that day, according to officials.

He then drove her to his house in D.C. where he sexually abused her and returned her to camp. During that time the girl's father arrived at camp to pick up his daughter and called police when he found out she had been taken from camp by a man. The young girl told officers what had happened and they then began an investigation.

Kelsey was found guilty of transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity, aggravated sexual abuse of a child, and first-degree child sexual abuse with aggravating circumstances. According to police, DNA analysis of evidence obtained from a medical examination of the victim also linked Kelsey to the crime.

Kelsey, a convicted felon, faces potential life in prison and mandatory minimum sentence of 30 years in prison.