Nonprofit for Abilene kids: Child pornography case not related to ex-worker's role
Editor's Note: This story includes information about alleged sexual abuse of children. If you know or suspect that anyone under 18 is being sexually or physically abused, call the Texas child abuse hotline at 1-800-252-5400. To learn more about how to identify signs of child abuse or neglect, click here.
A Big Brothers Big Sisters Abilene spokesman provided additional information on a case involving a former BBBS employee facing a child pornography-related charge.
Joel Michael Paris, 39, of Abilene was free Thursday from the Taylor County Jail on a $100,000 bond with conditions, online jail records show.
'Based on the initial police report that we've read, the allegations against Mr. Paris have nothing to do with his role as an employee of Big Brothers Big Sisters or any of the children in the program,' Dwayne Bivona, BBBS Abilene spokesman, said Thursday.
Paris' social media listed him as an employee of BBBS Abilene and the volunteer director for BBBS Lone Star.
In collaboration with U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Abilene police arrested Paris on Wednesday at his now former workplace after receiving a cyber tip, an Abilene Police Department media release said Wednesday.
On Wednesday, the jail and an APD media release listed Paris as charged with promotion of child pornography.
On Thursday, the jail's online records listed the charge as possession of child pornography.
Both offenses are second degree felonies punishable by as much as two to 10 years in prison and a fine up to $10,000 in case of a conviction. Anyone charged with a crime is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Through a cyber tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, detectives were able to identify a video uploaded via messaging app Discord that depicted girls ages 12 to 14 engaging in sexual conduct, the APD media release said. A search warrant was executed at his home.
Abilene police are encouraging anyone with information related to this case or other allegations to contact the Cyber Crimes Unit at 325-676-6610, the media release said.
BBBS Abilene said in a statement Wednesday evening that Paris was no longer with the nonprofit organization, which is cooperating fully with authorities and has a policy to thoroughly screen staff members, board members and volunteers.
More: UPDATED: BBBS Abilene staff member arrested on child pornography-related charge
More: Abilene man indicted after alleged street-racing fatality
Trish Choate is the executive editor for the Wichita Falls Times Record News, San Angelo Standard-Times and Abilene Reporter-News. Contact Trish with news tips at tchoate@gannett.com. Read her recent work here. Her X handle is @Trishapedia.
This article originally appeared on Abilene Reporter-News: Child porn case not related to ex-worker's role in BBBS Abilene
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