Police: Therapist at autism center admitted to molesting infant, paying for child porn on Snapchat

PENDLETON, Ind. (WISH) — A former autism behavioral therapist accused of molesting children admitted to police he’d been sexually assaulting an infant since they were less than two months old.

News 8 previously reported Alec Hegge was taken into custody July 24 by members of the Fishers-based Hamilton County Metro Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.

Hegge, 31, worked with autistic children at Changing Lives Behavior Analysis Inc. in Anderson. He marked his second year at the facility in June, but is no longer an employee.

The investigation started on March 27 when detectives in Ohio received a CyberTip about a woman sending several files of child sex abuse material to Hegge over Snapchat.

The woman, referred to as “Duncan” in a probable cause affidavit, admitted to police that she made the child pornography, later indicating she created videos of two children she cared for as a nanny.

She also admitted to sexually abusing at least two kids she cared for.

Officers notified the children’s families of the abuse, but due to their ages, the victims could not be interviewed.

After months of investigation, Hegge was tracked down and taken into custody by the Hamilton County Metro Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force on July 24.

Court documents say that Hegge, like Duncan, acknowledged his relationship with the nanny on social media. Hegge reportedly then confessed he “directed and requested Duncan to sexually assault the minor victims.” He paid for the videos and photos using CashApp and PayPal.

Later in the interview, detectives say Hegge admitted to sexually assaulting an infant since they were was at least two months old, saying the most recent assault was two days before his arrest.

A search of Hegge’s phone located 140 files of child pornography, which Hegge said he would save on different apps but never directly to his phone.

In a release on Hegge’s arrest, detectives said Hegge claimed he never hurt the patients he worked with because “there were too many safeguards in place.”

Fishers Police Department Lt. Doug Baker said in a previous release that though Hegge may not have molested other children, but, because of his work with autistic children, investigators think more victims exist.

As of Thursday, Hegge was still listed as an inmate at the Madison County jail.

Court records show he now faces five charges for two counts of child molesting, two counts of child porn possession, and one count of child exploitation.

Families who worked with Hegge and suspect victimization were asked to contact Greenfield Police Department Detective Chris Borgmann at 317-595-3467.

Help is available for victims of domestic violence. Below is a list of suggested resources on the Domestic Violence Network website:

• National Domestic Violence Hotline: 800-799-7233 or text START to 88788
• National Domestic Violence Hotline en español: 800-799-7233 o texto “START” al 88788
• Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence: 24-hour hotline available at 800-332-7385
• Indiana Coalition to End Sexual Assault and Human Trafficking
• La Plaza Indy
• The Julian Center
• Indiana Child Abuse Hotline: 800-800-5556
• National Sexual Assault Hotline: 800-656-4673

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