A school janitor in Texas, Daril Martin Gonzales, has been charged with possession and attempted possession of child pornography and obscene visual representation of a child. Gonzales, who also served as a school sports and cheerleader photographer, is accused of using technology to superimpose the faces of students onto nude photos.
The Department of Justice announced the charges, stating that Gonzales would secretly take photos of pre-pubescent students and use artificial intelligence to alter explicit videos or images. Victims reported feeling violated and scared upon learning of the altered photos.
Gonzales allegedly described his crimes as a “power trip” and admitted to viewing child pornography for up to six hours per day for the past two decades. The DOJ did not reveal details about how they discovered the altered photos or whether they had been shared online.
If convicted, Gonzales could face up to 20 years in federal prison followed by lifetime supervised release. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Whitney Ohlhausen. The investigation involved Homeland Security Investigations, the Abilene Police Department, and other law enforcement agencies.
The incident has caused shock and concern among the community in Anson, Texas. Anson, located in Jones County, is approximately 20 miles north of Abilene and 150 miles west of Fort Worth. The case highlights the importance of protecting children from exploitation and the need for thorough background checks for those working in schools.
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