Jacksonville police say a 58-year-old local man used threats and online impersonation to pressure a victim into sending sexually explicit images, then allegedly used those same images to keep the pressure on. The suspect, identified by authorities as Dewayne Scott Chapline, was arrested Friday and booked into the county jail, where he remains held pending court proceedings.
According to Jacksonville police, Chapline was taken into custody on March 13 and is charged with sexual coercion, stalking, online impersonation, harassment and obstruction or retaliation. He was booked into the Cherokee County Jail with bonds totaling $510,000, according to CBS19.
Police: Digital Forensics Tied Online Threats To Suspect
Chief Steven Markasky said in a police release that “the investigation required subpoenas, search warrants and extensive digital forensic analysis to link communications to the suspect.” Investigators allege Chapline used threats and online impersonation to coerce a victim into sending intimate images, then continued to threaten the victim to obtain more, according to the department release and local reporting from CBS19.
How Texas Law Frames The Alleged Crimes
Sexual coercion is codified at Texas Penal Code §21.18, according to the Texas Legislature, and covers threats or extortion used to obtain intimate visual material; the statute allows for higher penalties in some cases. Stalking, outlined in §42.072, criminalizes repeated conduct that places a person in fear and can be charged as a felony, per FindLaw. Online impersonation is addressed in §33.07, which outlaws using another person’s persona online with intent to harm, defraud or intimidate, according to Texas Public Law.
What Comes Next And How To Contact Investigators
Chapline remains in custody at the Cherokee County Jail, and court records and local officials have not yet listed an arraignment date. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Jacksonville Police Department at (903) 586-2546 or the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office. For public contact details, see the City of Jacksonville and the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office.
