A Houston mall worker allegedly engaged in twisted group sexual abuse of two young children in his care and filmed at least some of the disturbing acts in a public bathroom, authorities said.
Arthur Hector Fernandez III, 29, was arrested and charged with federal charges after the FBI discovered several videos showing a group of men sexually abusing two two-year-old children on separate occasions dating back to 2022, according to a complaint. Texas criminal case filed last month. .
Fernandez, a former Houston Galleria employee, was one of at least seven people who allegedly appeared on camera in four disturbing videos, which were initially reported by an Australian government anti-child exploitation agency on Dec. 6, 2023, the complaint states. . .
The short clips, in which Fernandez and one or two others allegedly abused the children, originally appeared on the dark web in an invitation-only forum, authorities said.
One of the toddlers was abused in what appeared to be a public bathroom while on a changing table, the FBI said. He was filmed in one of the videos, while the other boy appeared in three videos.
Fernandez, a former Houston Galleria employee, was one of at least seven people who allegedly appeared on camera in four disturbing videos. Brandon Bell
Fernandez is accused of being behind the camera capturing the sickening abuse in at least one of the clips, the feds said.
Federal authorities were able to identify the two children and interviewed their relatives, who said each of them had asked Fernandez to babysit their children while they were working at a store at the Texas Mall.
One victim’s mother said she was called to work last summer and brought her son with her. Fernandez, who worked at a kiosk at the mall, offered to push the boy around the mall while he worked, the mother said.
One of the toddlers was abused in what appeared to be a public bathroom while on a changing table, the FBI said. Brandon Bell
The other victim’s relative said she often took her son to the mall when she couldn’t find a babysitter, and Fernandez babysat the child on some occasions, the complaint describes.
Fernández was accused of sexual exploitation of children and will remain detained pending trial.
“The evidence in this case is overwhelming and sickening,” the presiding judge wrote in a court order that kept him behind bars, according to USA Today.
“I can not allow [him] abuse other minors and there are no conditions or combination of conditions that would alleviate a danger to the community. “This is not a close call.”
One of the victim’s relatives said she often took her son to the mall when she couldn’t find a babysitter, and Fernandez babysat the child on some occasions, the complaint describes. Wonchalerm Rungswang
Investigators identified Fernandez by two silver bracelets seen on the wrist of one of the abusers in some of the videos, according to the complaint. The victims’ relatives each separately recognized the bracelets like the ones Fernández used to wear.
Officers have since taken electronic devices from the alleged pervert’s home as part of their investigation.
Categories: Trending
Source: vtt.edu.vn