Government

Attorney General Abbott’s Cyber Crimes Unit arrests Houston-Area daycare worker for child pornography

Cybertip leads to discovery of hundreds of images of child pornography

From the Office of Greg Abbott, Attorney General of Texas

February 14, 2007

HOUSTON—Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott’s Cyber Crimes Unit investigators have arrested Channelview daycare employee Renee Lofton, 21, for possession of child pornography.

“Texans will not tolerate criminals who exploit our children,” said Attorney General Abbott. “The Cyber Crimes Unit will continue its aggressive crackdown on sexual predators and child pornographers. We are grateful to the Harris County District Attorney’s office for their assistance as we strive toward a Texas that is safer for our children.”

Renee Lofton, 21, Channelview daycare employee

Lofton was arrested by Cyber Crimes Unit investigators Feb. 2 at her residence in Channelview. Cyber Crimes Unit investigators conducted a search of Lofton’s computer and external media after a cybertip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children indicated she was posting sexually explicit images of children on the Internet. External media confiscated from Lofton’s home revealed hundreds of images of child pornography.

Possession of child pornography is a third-degree felony, punishable by up to 10 years in state prison and a fine of up to $10,000.

Attorney General Abbott has earned a national reputation for aggressively arresting and prosecuting online child predators. In 2002, he launched the Cyber Crimes Unit, which targets online predators by assuming the identities of young teenagers in Internet chat rooms, and the Fugitive Unit, which locates convicted child sex offenders who have violated the terms of their parole and could be stalking children. Attorney General Abbott's initiative has netted more than 500 arrests of such offenders. His office also has obtained convictions against 56 men on child pornography charges.

For more information, contact the Texas Attorney General's office at (800) 252-8011 or visit the Attorney General's Web site at www.oag.state.tx.us.

For more information, contact the Texas Attorney General's office at (800) 252-8011 or visit the Attorney General's Web site at www.oag.state.tx.us.