A Houston mall worker is accused of engaging in a twisted gang of sexual abuse against two young children in his care and filming at least some of the harassment in a public bathroom, authorities said.
Arthur Hector Fernandez III, 29, was arrested and charged with federal charges after the FBI found several videos showing a group of men sexually abusing two two-year-old children at different times dating back to 2022, according to a Texas criminal complaint filed last month.
Fernandez, a former employee at the Houston Galleria, is one of at least seven individuals who allegedly appeared on camera in four disturbing videos — which were initially flagged by Australia’s anti-child exploitation government agency on Dec. 6, 2023, the complaint states. .
The short clip, in which Fernandez and one or two others allegedly abused the child, originally appeared on the dark web in an invite-only forum, authorities said.
One of the boys was molested in what appeared to be a public restroom while he was on a changing table, the FBI said. He was filmed in one of the videos, while the other boys appeared in three videos.
Fernandez, a former employee at the Houston Galleria, is one of at least seven individuals who allegedly appeared on camera in four disturbing videos. Brandon Bell
Fernandez is accused of being behind the camera that recorded the sickening abuse in at least one clip, the feds said.
Federal authorities were able to identify the two children and interview their relatives, who said they had each asked Fernandez to babysit their children while they were at the store in the Texas mall.
The mother of one victim said last summer she was called to work and took her son with her. Fernandez, who worked at a kiosk at the mall, offered to push the toddler around the mall while he worked, the mother said.
One of the boys was molested in what appeared to be a public restroom while he was on a changing table, the FBI said. Brandon Bell
Another relative of the victim said she had taken her son to the mall when she couldn’t find a babysitter, and Fernandez watched the child several times, according to the complaint.
Fernandez is accused of sexually exploiting a child and will be held pending trial.
“The evidence in this case is overwhelming and revolting,” the presiding judge wrote in a court order keeping him in prison, according to USA Today.
“I can’t allow it [him] to abuse any other minor and no condition or combination of conditions that can reduce the danger to the community. This is not a close call.”
One of the victim’s relatives said she once took her son to the mall when she couldn’t find a babysitter, and Fernandez watched the child several times, according to the complaint. Wonchalerm Rungswang
Investigators identified Fernandez by two silver bracelets seen on the wrist of one of the abusers in several videos, according to the complaint. Relatives of each victim separately identified the bracelet as the one Fernandez often wore.
Agents have taken electronic items from the alleged embezzler’s home as part of their investigation.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
