AUSTIN COUNTY — Austin County Sheriff Jack Brandes, Criminal Investigations Division (CID), on Aug. 31, received a tip in reference to an adult male being in possession of child pornography on his cellular phone and making additional requests for photos and videos.
Austin County Sheriff's Office CID Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Investigators Damon Hagen and Hunter Janicek immediately made contact with the suspect, identified as Jeremy Bender of New Ulm.
During the investigation, ACSO In- vestigators identified multiple illicit photo graphs of child pornography on Bender’s cellular phone.
Subsequently, Bender was arrested for the Possession of Child Pornography (Texas Penal Code 43.26). This is an ongoing investigation that may lead to additional charges and/or suspects.
The Austin County Sheriff's Office is a joint member of the Southern Texas Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force and currently has two investigators assigned.
Bender is innocent until proven guilty by legal means.
