The Orange County Criminal Lawyer Blog
A Georgetown officer and his spouse were arrested for allegedly recording videos of themselves having sexual encounters with a 17-year-old girl.
28-year-old Samuel Tejeda has been an officer with the Georgetown Police Department since the early springtime of 2018. He and his wife Ashley, 25, have a home in Jarrell.
On January 26, the police department learned that the married couple might be involved in recording illegal sexual activity between themselves and an underage girl.
The following day, the department placed Samuel on administrative leave pending an investigation into the situation, but he was reported as being off-duty during the alleged instances.
When the Tejedas’ home was inspected on January 29, the authorities reportedly found a hard drive that appeared as if it had been purposely destroyed.
The 17-year-old spoke with the authorities and reportedly disclosed that she had many sexual encounters with Samuel. Some of them allegedly took place in the backyard at her residence. She also alleged that she had sex with the man at his home.
Ashley reportedly told a Texas Ranger that she was sexually involved with the girl as well and that she and her husband were aware that she is 17.
In the state of Texas, 17 is the age for legal sexual consent.
When discussing the electronic equipment, Ashley reportedly said she had filmed an encounter with the girl, but deleted it when she found out about the investigation.
The alleged recording reportedly violates the Texas statutory rape law, because filming a sexual encounter is considered a “sexual performance,” which is disallowed in the state for those under the age of 18.
On February 3, Samuel and Ashley turned themselves in at the Williamson County Jail for the allegations. They are each facing two counts of felony second-degree sexual performance by a child. They will not be charged for having sex with the girl.
Both suspects were released after they each posted a $60,000 bond.
In response to the charges against the couple, one of the prosecuting attorneys disclosed that they are under the impression that it will be easy to prove guilt because Samuel being an officer “makes it more difficult from a criminal defense standpoint.”
If you or someone you love is suspected of a sexual offense, contact Orange County criminal defense lawyer Staycie R. Sena at (949) 477-8088 for a consultation now.