A secret audio recording handed over by a worried family has led to the arrest of a San Antonio man that investigators say groomed and sexually touched an 11-year-old girl. Court documents identify the suspect as 63-year-old David Johnson, who was taken into custody by the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office after the child’s relatives brought the recording and their concerns to authorities. A judge set his bail at $115,000 and ordered Johnson to stay away from firearms and have no contact with the girl or her family while the case is pending.
What investigators allege
According to court records cited by the San Antonio Express-News, Johnson was booked into the Bexar County jail on charges of child grooming and indecency with a child by sexual contact. Investigators say the case opened after the girl told her mother about the alleged abuse, and the mother then turned the secret recording over to Child Protective Services and law enforcement.
Prosecutors, as described in the reporting, say the two charges together reflect what they characterize as a pattern of conduct rather than a one-off incident.
How the alleged grooming unfolded
Court documents described by the San Antonio Express-News say the girl told investigators Johnson regularly bought her gifts, including watches, Japanese fans, LOL dolls and chopsticks, and expected hugs and spoken thanks in return.
In a forensic interview and in a recording recounted by an investigator, the audio allegedly captured an adult male instructing the child not to wear underwear because “it gets in my way.” After that recording surfaced, the family kept Johnson away from the girl, according to the documents.
Charges and legal context
Indecency with a child by sexual contact is defined in Texas law as a serious felony offense, with the statute available on Justia. Child grooming is separately spelled out in state law and classified as a felony under Penal Code section 15.032, which is also detailed on Justia, including provisions that allow for enhanced penalties in certain circumstances.
State lawmakers later moved to make grooming convictions reportable to the sex-offender registry under legislation commonly referred to as “Audrii’s Law,” which news outlets report took effect in 2025, according to coverage by the Houston Chronicle.
Local picture
Johnson’s arrest lands amid a run of child-exploitation investigations and arrests around Bexar County in recent months, with local outlets noting that law-enforcement units have kept a close focus on such cases. For context on other recent probes handled by county investigators, see reporting from KSAT, which has documented similar child-related cases.
Help and resources
Authorities are asking anyone with information about this case to contact the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office; phone numbers and unit details are listed on the county’s official website.
Victims and families looking for support can reach out to local advocacy organizations. ChildSafe, the county’s children’s advocacy center, provides intake, reporting guidance and support services, and the Bexar County site also offers sheriff’s office contact information along with links to victim-services resources.
