An 18-year-old University of Houston student from Cypress was arrested on campus after investigators say he spent months posing as a woman on Snapchat to trick a man into sending him an intimate video, then shared that recording with others during a FaceTime call. Tyler Bernard Burrel now faces a felony charge of unlawful disclosure of intimate visual material following a months-long investigation by Harris County Precinct 5 constable deputies.
According to ABC13 Houston, Burrel pretended to be a woman on Snapchat and used that fake persona to get a sexual video from an 18-year-old man. Deputies say Burrel then recorded that video himself before sharing it with other people during a FaceTime call. The victim had been in contact with Burrel on Snapchat for months before the arrest, per the same report.
Burrel was arrested following an investigation. He has since posted bail and was no longer in jail as of Wednesday, according to the station's report.
How the Video Spread Beyond the Victim
A third party reportedly accessed the sexual video after it was shared, and three independent individuals observed the posted recordings, according to the ABC13 account. A Harris County magistrate judge, Patrick Joseph, said the third-party access caused embarrassment to the complaining witness, the station reported.
When deputies seized Burrel's electronics, they found images of more than one man stored on the devices, the same report notes. Investigators have formally identified one victim so far but believe there may be more people affected who have not yet come forward.
What Texas Law Says About the Charge
The charge against Burrel falls under Texas Penal Code Section 21.16, commonly known as the state's revenge porn law, which makes unlawful disclosure or promotion of intimate visual material a state jail felony, according to Texas Legislature Online. Under Texas Penal Code Section 12.35, a state jail felony conviction carries a sentencing range of 180 days to two years in a state jail facility, along with a potential fine of up to $10,000.
The charge against Burrel falls under Texas Penal Code Section 21.16, commonly known as the state's revenge porn law, which makes unlawful disclosure or promotion of intimate visual material a state jail felony, according to Texas Legislature Online. Under Texas Penal Code Section 12.35, a state jail felony conviction carries a sentencing range of 180 days to two years in a state jail facility, along with a potential fine of up to $10,000. To convict someone under Section 21.16(b), prosecutors must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant intentionally distributed intimate material without effective consent, acted with intent to cause harm, and that the person depicted had a reasonable expectation of privacy, according to the Thiessen Law Firm.
A Growing Caseload for Precinct 5's Cyber Unit
Harris County Constable Precinct 5 covers more than 300 square miles across west Harris County and serves over one million residents under Constable Terry Allbritton, who took office in 2025. Precinct 5 is asking any potential victims or people with information to call (832) 927-6700.
This is not the unit's first case of this kind. In October 2025, Harris County Constable Mark Herman's High Tech Crimes Unit arrested another local suspect, Elijah Alexander, on the same unlawful disclosure charge after investigating unauthorized social media distribution of private content.
The FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center 2024 report found Texas ranked second nationally in total cybercrime complaints, with extortion schemes — including online blackmail and catfishing — topping the list at 7,854 reported cases statewide. Nationwide, cybercrime losses reported to the FBI reached $16.6 billion across more than 859,000 complaints in 2024, a 33 percent jump from the year before.
Burrel's case remains pending, and it is not yet clear whether additional victims will be formally identified or how the University of Houston will address his student status while the felony charge moves through the courts.
