Baytown police say an undercover sting targeting online predators ended this week with the arrest of a Houston man accused of trying to meet someone he believed was a 16-year-old at a local school. Officers say the suspect was taken into custody without incident and has been charged with online solicitation of a minor.
According to the Baytown Police Department, investigators with the department's Special Investigations Division arrested 33-year-old Toby James Woods of Houston on Jan. 8 after he allegedly arranged to meet what he believed was a 16-year-old female at a school. "Protecting our youth is one of our highest priorities," Baytown Police Chief John Stringer said in the release. The department said the case remains under investigation.
Local reporting and video
Local station ABC13 reported that Woods was booked on a charge of online solicitation of a minor and noted that investigators say he is a convicted sex offender from a prior case. KHOU published video coverage of the operation and relayed the department's warning for parents to keep a close eye on their children's online activity.
Baytown's enforcement push
The arrest follows a December demand-suppression operation in Baytown that led to a dozen solicitation arrests, part of what local officials describe as a sustained effort to shrink the online market for exploitation. 12 arrested in Baytown sting documented that earlier operation, and the department has signaled that proactive stings aimed at buyers are not going away.
Legal implications
Online solicitation of a minor is codified in Texas Public Law under Texas Penal Code Sec. 33.021, which can be charged as a felony and carries penalties that vary with the circumstances. The statute allows enhanced penalties if the conduct occurs during school hours. The law also makes clear that an in-person meeting does not have to occur for prosecution, and a conviction typically requires registration as a sex offender.
How to report
Baytown police urged parents to talk with their children about online safety, keep tabs on social media when appropriate, and report any suspicious contacts. The Baytown Police Department says anyone with information can call the department's tip line at 281-422-8371 or submit an anonymous tip online for investigators to review.
