A 32-year-old San Antonio man was arrested Friday after showing up at a northwest-side restaurant where he allegedly thought he was meeting a 16-year-old for sex, authorities said. Bexar County sheriff’s deputies, backed by a SWAT team, took Brandon Michael Felan into custody in the 10700 block of Potranco Road without incident. He was booked on a third-degree felony charge and is being held on a $75,000 bond. Officials say the bust stemmed from an undercover operation by the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office Human Exploitation Unit targeting people who solicit minors online.
Undercover chats on Whisper app
Investigators say Felan had been using the anonymous social app Whisper to talk with accounts he believed belonged to underage girls. Those profiles were actually run by undercover officers, according to KENS5. Deputies say the online conversations escalated into plans for an in-person meeting, and investigators moved in once Felan arrived at the restaurant. The sheriff’s office says the case is still active as detectives comb through seized electronic devices for potential evidence.
What the sheriff said
“Three different instances where he thinks he’s talking to three different underage girls, when in reality he’s talking to three different undercover operatives,” Sheriff Javier Salazar said, describing the chats his investigators uncovered, per KENS5. Deputies seized Felan’s electronic devices at the scene and have warned that additional charges could follow if forensic analysis turns up child sexual-abuse material. Authorities also noted that Felan had previously cut off contact in a separate investigation before arranging the meet-up that led to Friday’s arrest.
BCSO sting operation has produced multiple arrests
Officials say this arrest is part of a broader series of undercover stings by BCSO that have led to multiple recent arrests, including other men accused of trying to solicit minors online, according to the Express-News. Sheriff Salazar has used recent news conferences to urge parents to keep a close eye on who their children are talking to online and to remind would-be offenders that undercover operations are ongoing. Investigators say the Human Exploitation Unit has teamed up with federal partners on several of these stings.
How to report tips
Bexar County officials are asking anyone who may have information about Felan or similar online contacts to call the sheriff’s office tip line at 210-335-6000, as reported by KSAT. Tips can also be emailed to [email protected], and authorities say they may be submitted anonymously.
Legal implications
Felan is charged with online solicitation of a minor under Texas Penal Code §33.021, which generally classifies the offense as a third-degree felony, according to the Texas Penal Code §33.021. The statute allows the charge to be elevated to a second-degree felony if the defendant believed the alleged victim was younger than 14. A conviction for a third-degree felony in Texas carries a potential prison sentence of two to ten years and a fine of up to $10,000 under state law, per state statute. The case remains pending as investigators complete forensic analysis and prosecutors weigh whether to pursue any additional charges.
