Cook County man accused of trying to meet minor was messaging undercover investigator

A 34-year-old registered sex offender, Joseph Hoggard, was arrested after communicating with an undercover investigator posing as a 13-year-old girl, exchanging explicit messages and attempting to arrange meetings. The case is part of a Cook County Sheriff’s Office operation targeting online predators, with authorities emphasizing that grooming behavior is criminal even without physical contact.