Three Texas men are in a Waller County Jail after allegedly attempting to meet up with a minor for the purpose of having sex. The men were busted in an online solicitation sting where they thought they were chatting with a 14-year-old female.
The sting was carried out by investigators working for Waller County District Attorney Elton Mathis in cooperation with Waller County Sheriff Glenn Smith.
Mathis recently hired an investigator who had previously worked in Houston on Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) investigations. The program was set up by the DA’s office and deputies from the sheriff’s office provided surveillance and carried out the arrests.
The district attorney told KPRC NBC2 in Houston that the home used in the sting was provided by David Henke, owner of the Waller County Land Company.
“I especially want to thank Mr. David Henke of Waller County Land Company for lending us a home to conduct these undercover operations,” Mathis told KPRC. “Without the support of citizens like him that take the time to get involved with their local government, our jobs would be much harder. Special thanks also goes to Sheriff Glenn Smith and his staff for supporting the office in this endeavor and lending deputies and resources to assist us.”
The identity of the three men arrested has not been released. In an interview with Breitbart Texas Friday morning, Sheriff Smith said one of the men had just recently married. “His wife called to verify the charges,” Smith said. “She was not happy at all.”
Smith was quick to credit DA Mathis for putting the ICAC unit together and planning this sting operation.
“These are very important crimes to stop,” he stated. “We have to send a message that we will protect the children of Waller County.”
He said that in addition to the three men actually arrested, there were several others who were on their way to the house and either backed out, or couldn’t find the location.
Bob Price serves as associate editor and senior political news contributor for Breitbart Texas. He is a founding member of the Breitbart Texas team. Follow him on Twitter @BobPriceBBTX.