A 34-year-old San Antonio man who installs security cameras for a living is behind bars after Bexar County deputies say he tried to meet what he thought was a 16-year-old girl, who turned out to be an undercover investigator.
The Bexar County Sheriff's Office says Nathan Robert Anderson was arrested Tuesday at his home in the 12600 block of South Hausman and charged with online solicitation of a minor. Investigators allege Anderson communicated online with someone he believed was a 16-year-old girl. Deputies say they executed a search warrant at the residence and seized electronic devices as part of the ongoing probe.
Undercover probe led by Human Exploitation Unit
According to KENS 5, the sheriff’s Human Exploitation Unit began the investigation in April and applied for an arrest warrant before Anderson was taken into custody. The report says deputies recovered credentials and other materials at the home indicating Anderson installs security cameras and has done work for local school districts.
Authorities booked Anderson on a third-degree felony count of online solicitation of a minor, the sheriff's office told the station.
What the law says
Online solicitation of a minor is defined in Texas Penal Code §33.021 and is generally prosecuted as a third-degree felony, with the statute allowing for stiffer penalties in certain situations. The law criminalizes sexually explicit communication with a minor and knowingly soliciting a meeting for sexual conduct, according to the statute text.
Part of recent sting operations
Bexar County's Human Exploitation Unit has run several undercover operations this spring that resulted in arrests, including a late April sting that netted multiple suspects, as reported by the San Antonio Express-News. Sheriff Javier Salazar has said investigators typically avoid naming specific apps used in these stings in order to protect their methods and preserve evidence.
Work ties prompt school safety concerns
The recovered credentials, along with Anderson's work installing security cameras, prompted extra scrutiny because of possible contact with school districts, investigators told KENS 5. Sheriff Salazar said the internet can "be a very useful thing, but it can also be a very dark and scary thing," according to the sheriff's office statement.
Anderson remains in custody on the online solicitation charge while deputies continue the investigation and prepare the case for prosecutors. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Bexar County Sheriff's Office Human Exploitation Unit.
