A 28-year-old man is facing three felony charges in Harris County after investigators say a digital forensics probe turned up child pornography on his electronic devices.
Harris County Constable Precinct 4 deputies arrested Eugenio Richard Pomalaza Santisteban on three felony counts of possession of child pornography, the constable's office announced Monday. According to investigators, forensic examinations of seized electronic devices uncovered additional illicit files, and the Harris County District Attorney's Office accepted three felony charges. Deputies later located Pomalaza Santisteban, took him into custody without incident, and booked him into the Harris County Jail.
In a Facebook post, Constable Mark Herman's office identified the suspect as Eugenio Richard Pomalaza Santisteban, listed his birthdate as Oct. 9, 1997, and said arrest warrants had been issued before deputies tracked him down, according to Harris County Constable, Precinct 4. The post also states that Pomalaza Santisteban admitted possessing the illegal material before he was booked into the county jail.
How investigators say they work
According to the department's website, Precinct 4's Criminal Investigations Division includes a High-Tech Crimes Unit that handles digital forensics and follows electronic trails in cases like this. The unit's work includes examining devices, tracing where illicit files originate, and tying that activity to a specific residence or device.
Recent local reporting describes how those same techniques have been used in similar investigations to link child pornography files to a suspect, then execute search warrants and make arrests. For background on those investigative steps, see reporting by FOX 26 Houston.
Charges and legal exposure
According to Harris County Constable, Precinct 4, the Harris County District Attorney's Office accepted three felony counts of possession of child pornography in this case, and forensic exams recovered additional files. The post also says the suspect admitted possessing the material.
Possession or promotion of child pornography is prosecuted under Texas Penal Code § 43.26, which provides escalating penalties and registration requirements that can depend on the amount and nature of the material involved.
What’s next
Court dates and bond information have not yet been posted publicly, and prosecutors will determine the next steps as the case moves through the Harris County court system. Constable Mark Herman wrote that "our office provides all available resources to protect the most vulnerable members of our community, especially our children," and the agency directed anyone with information to its public contact channels listed on the precinct website.
