A Jasper County woman is facing a felony charge after investigators say she sent nude photos and vulgar messages to a boy who was 12 at the time. Susanna Mendoza, 26, was booked into the Jasper County Jail on a charge of solicitation of a minor, a second-degree felony. Sheriff Chuck Havard said deputies raced to make the arrest because they believed Mendoza had threatened to flee and might be in the country illegally.
According to a post from the sheriff’s office shared on its Facebook page and reported by KOGO, Investigator Calvin Starkie arrested Mendoza at about 4:26 p.m. last Thursday. The investigation started after the boy’s parents found the messages and contacted law enforcement. The sheriff’s post, which local outlets also picked up, said Mendoza allegedly sent “nude photos and vulgar text messages” meant to “sexually entice” the juvenile. Authorities say the boy is now 13 and the case remains open.
Charges and penalties
Investigators filed one count of solicitation of a minor after reviewing the alleged communications, and the sheriff’s office described the charge as a second-degree felony. Under Texas law, online solicitation of a minor is criminalized in Penal Code §33.021, and a second-degree felony is punishable by two to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000, as noted by Justia and Statutes.
Sheriff's post and immigration notification
Sheriff Havard told followers that his office “He had to work extremely fast because it is believed the suspect is an illegal immigrant and she threatened to flee the country,” as stated by KOGO. He said the department planned to notify federal immigration officials, adding that this was why deputies acted quickly after the family reported what they found on the boy’s device.
What happens next
As of the latest local reporting, prosecutors had not announced an arraignment date and no further information had been released, as per East Texas Banner. Mendoza remains presumed innocent unless and until she is proven guilty in court, and investigators say they plan to keep working the case and notify federal authorities as needed.
