Ex-Texas Officer Daniel Bates Gets 3 Life Terms Over 300 Child Abuse Files
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Sep 4
Ex-Texas Officer Daniel Bates Gets 3 Life Terms Over 300 Child Abuse Files
3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Sep 4
Summary
Three consecutive life sentences were imposed on former Itasca reserve officer Daniel Joseph Bates after a Texas jury convicted him of possessing child pornography; he also received 40 years for online solicitation of a minor.
An adult decoy posing as a 15-year-old girl alerted authorities after Bates allegedly communicated with someone he believed was a minor, leading Texas Rangers to search his devices and find more than 300 abusive images and videos.
Bates told jurors the material was tied to a secret investigation into human traffickers, but prosecutors said he could not substantiate any official police work and noted he was working highway construction security when arrested.
Prosecutors said Bates tried to use his reserve-officer status to shield himself, arguing the sentence removes a former badge-holder who betrayed his oath and exploited access meant to protect children.