A 24-year-old Houston man is facing five felony counts of possessing child pornography after a multi-agency search in Magnolia, according to authorities. The suspect, identified as Matthew Deanda, was arrested Friday and booked into the county jail as the investigation continues, according to MyTexasDaily.
The arrest was announced in a Precinct 5 press release and was first reported by MyTexasDaily, which reported that Precinct 5 constable investigators worked the case alongside the Houston Metro Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.
Multi-Agency Child Exploitation Team Leads Probe
The Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office says its Internet Crimes Against Children division teams up with the Houston Metro ICAC to pull together local, state and federal resources for online child-exploitation cases. The Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office notes that the task force provides digital forensic work, prosecutions and victim-assistance services across the region.
According to a precinct press release, investigators executed a search warrant at a Magnolia residence and seized electronic devices they say contained illicit material. Those devices led to five felony counts of possession of child pornography against Deanda, and the release credits Constable Chris Jones and his investigators for developing the case with task-force partners.
What The Charges Could Mean
Possession of child pornography in Texas falls under Penal Code §43.26 and is generally a third-degree felony. It is punishable by two to ten years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000, with potential sentence increases based on the number of images, prior convictions or other aggravating factors. The statute and recent legislative changes detail enhanced penalties in some situations; see the Texas Legislature for specifics.
The Precinct 5 Constable’s Office underscores in its releases that “all arrests and photos are public information” and that anyone arrested is presumed innocent until proven guilty in court. Anyone with information related to this case is asked to contact the Precinct 5 office at (281) 259-6493 or the District Attorney’s ICAC unit, with additional contact details available on the precinct’s website.
