Before we get started with this story, please keep a few things in mind. First off, this is not a cop bashing blog. While I am aware of the abuses that many police inflict on the public, this is not a story about that. If you’d like to discuss that with me you may do so here. Secondly, this story began back early in 2020, months before the current protests.
Back in February of this year, San Antonio police officer Sebastian Torres was arrested and charged with possession and distribution of obscene images depicting the sexual abuse of children. This was after a joint investigation by the San Antonio Police Department and the FBI. Later that month, the 25-year-old Torres pleaded guilty to the charges against him.
Last month it became public that Torres had shared the child porn images on Snapchat with a female acquaintance. This was after Torres had sent explicit images of himself to his acquaintance. Even more disturbing is that Torres told investigators that he belonged to a group chat that shared similar content.
“I have been in group chats where it turns into like, there’s a minor there, and it’s like, ‘ah that’s too much’ and I exit the group chat,” he told officers, according to the document obtained by KSAT.
This concerns me greatly that he didn’t report any of this and just supposedly exited the chat instead. Not just because he was a police officer sharing child porn but who else was in these alleged chats? For all I know, the other people in this chat could have been already arrested, but I can’t help but wonder if there were other members of law enforcement in that chat.
Torres is looking at 20 years in prison when he is sentenced later this month. Even though this was a federal investigation, the current administration doesn’t fill me with a lot of hope that Torres will receive anywhere near the maximum sentence. Keep an eye on this post to see if he does.
(Sources)
SAPD officer arrested on charges of child exploitation, officials say
SAPD officer pleads guilty to distribution and possession of child pornography, court documents reveal
Records: Fired San Antonio police officer sent explicit Snapchat videos of children to friend
Former SAPD officer indefinitely suspended without pay after pleading guilty to child pornography charges
Real Crime with Trench Reynolds 