Sheriff Javier Salazar on Thursday stepped in front of the cameras in San Antonio with one message: his office is going after people who try to prey on kids online. The Bexar County Sheriff’s Human Exploitation Unit, he said, arrested a suspect after an online contact led to a planned meet-up, the result of a recent undercover operation targeting online solicitation of a minor. Salazar added that detectives are still digging into the case and urged anyone with information to speak up.
Salazar Briefs Reporters
As reported by FOX San Antonio, Salazar held the briefing live and walked reporters through how the sting unfolded. Investigators used a covert online account to make contact with the suspect and set up a meeting, at which deputies moved in and made a controlled arrest. The station carried the briefing in real time and later posted the full video for anyone who missed it.
Part Of A Months-Long Crackdown
BCSO has been running multiple undercover operations this year that rely on investigators posing as minors online, a strategy that has led to arrests across the county, according to KSAT. One January arrest followed a planned meet-up at Pearsall Park, highlighted in this earlier Pearsall Park sting, while a mid-March arrest ended at Ingram Park Mall, as covered by KSAT. The Pearsall Park case and similar busts in recent months have drawn steady attention as the sheriff’s office keeps leaning on online decoy tactics.
What The Law Says
Under Texas law, online solicitation of a minor is defined in Penal Code Section 33.021 and is a felony offense. The statute states that the crime is generally a third-degree felony, but it can be bumped up to a second-degree felony if the alleged victim is younger than 14. It also spells out the specific elements prosecutors have to prove in court. The full language is available in the Texas Penal Code.
How To Report
The Bexar County Sheriff's Office is asking anyone with information related to this case or similar activity to call non-emergency dispatch at 210-335-6000, according to the county's website. Investigators also want residents to hang on to any messages, screenshots, or other digital evidence that could help detectives. The sheriff’s office says it plans to release additional details as charges are filed and the investigation moves forward.
