DA: Harlingen man arrested for producing child porn, sending it to person in Tennessee

HARLINGEN, Texas ( ValleyCentral ) — A Harlingen man was arrested Saturday after allegedly producing child pornography, and sending it to a person in Tennessee, authorities said.

Juan Gabriel Mendoza, 33, was arrested by the Cameron County District Attorney’s Office on two counts of sexual performance by a child, a news release stated.

According to the release, investigators and special agents with Homeland Security Investigations were made aware of an investigation in Tennessee, where Mendoza was exchanging sexually explicit images of children under the age of 4 years old.

“In addition, Mendoza admitted to producing and distributing the sexually explicit material,” the release stated.

After being arrested, Mendoza admitted to producing and distributing the material. He also admitted to participating in the conversation with the person from Tennessee, where he would exchange the child pornography.

On Sunday, Mendoza was arraigned and his bond was set at $300,000. The DA’s office added that he may face additional charges.

On X, HSI shared footage of Mendoza being taken into custody.

“Over the weekend, #HSI ’s Rio Grande Valley Child Exploitation Investigations Task Force rescued a child and arrested an individual for committing sexual acts on the minor victim,” HSI stated in the post.

If convicted, Mendoza faces a punishment range between 5-99 years in jail. He remains jailed at the Carrizales-Rucker Detention Center.

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