TEXARKANA, Texas - A Texarkana man accused of sharing child pornography and expressing a desire to molest a young girl living in his own home is the subject of a federal criminal complaint.
Troy Dewayne Daniels, 48, was arrested Nov. 25 by Texarkana, Texas, police on a federal warrant for possession of child pornography as part of an undercover investigation which began in California, according to an affidavit attached to a criminal complaint pending in the Texarkana Division of the Eastern District of Texas.
According to the affidavit, an officer in Arroyo Grande, Calif., was conducting a "proactive child exploitation investigation" in late October using the application "Whisper." Daniels allegedly responded to a public post made by the officer which referenced a stepdaughter "coming on to him."
Daniels and the undercover officer began chatting privately online through the Whisper app. Daniels allegedly told the officer that he has an 8-year-old girl living in his home with whom he hopes to engage in sexual activity and claimed only to have "kissed her like on T.V."
During their chats, Daniels allegedly asked the officer to switch to the application "Wickr" because it is encrypted. Daniels allegedly sent the undercover officer images of child pornography using the Wickr app.
When asked where he obtained the child pornography, Daniels allegedly responded, "trades," leading the officer to conclude Daniels is actively sharing and receiving child pornography via the internet.
Federal investigators in California obtained subpoenas which ultimately led investigators to a cell phone number associated with Daniels in mid-November. Texarkana FBI agents executed a search Nov. 25 of Daniels' home on Trinity Street in Texarkana, Texas.
Daniels allegedly unlocked his cell phone for investigators and showed them files of child pornography. Investigators determined that the child living in Daniels' home is a 6-year-old girl. Daniels allegedly claimed his conversations with the undercover officer about his desire for sexual contact with the child were "pure fantasy" and denied any inappropriate contact with the 6-year-old.
The girl allegedly disclosed that Daniels has "kissed her like in the movies," and alleged Daniels inserted his tongue in her mouth while the two were alone in his bedroom and Daniels was wearing only underwear.
At an initial court appearance Nov. 26 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Caroline Craven, Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Hornok made a motion seeking to keep Daniels behind bars while his case proceeds. Texarkana lawyer Jeff Harrelson waived the issue of detention at the Nov. 26 hearing but filed a motion Monday asking the court to schedule a detention hearing to determine if Daniels can be freed while his case is pending.
A date for the detention hearing has not been scheduled. Daniels is currently being held in the Bowie County jail.