Global Courant
Texas authorities arrested a registered sex offender in Hays County on Thursday for allegedly harboring and sex trafficking a child victim.
San Antonio resident Diego Cortez, 24, was charged with harboring a runaway child, in addition to a first-degree count of child trafficking for the purpose of sexual conduct.
Hays County authorities were sent to Kyle, Texas after hearing reports of a 10-year-old girl who had run away from home. Police said they believed Cortez “tricked” her into leaving her residence for San Antonio, before returning her to Kyle later that afternoon.
Sheriff’s deputies conducted a traffic check on a white 2022 Volkswagen leaving the Kyle area and identified Cortez as the suspect.
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San Antonio resident Diego Cortez, 24, was charged with harboring a runaway child and child trafficking. (Hays County Sheriff’s Office)
“After further investigation, deputies determined that Cortez is a registered sex offender from San Antonio, Texas, and seduced the juvenile victim into leaving her residence,” said Hays County Sheriff’s Office. said in a statement,
Cortez allegedly interacted with minors on Snapchat under the usernames Dfordiegs and Slowbass4367. He allegedly posed as a young teenager to gain the trust of underage victims.
Police believe Cortez had sex with the 10-year-old victim at least once.
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Hays County Sheriff’s Office authorities are working to identify other potential victims. (Google Maps)
“Through follow-up interviews, investigators at the Hays County Sheriff’s Office determined that Cortez engaged in sexual intercourse on more than one occasion with the missing youth, as well as other children in and around San Antonio and surrounding areas,” the sheriff’s office explains. out.
Authorities are working to identify other victims. Anyone with information on the case can contact Sergeant Mark Opiela at 512-393-7896.
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Hays County Sheriff’s Office is actively investigating the case. There are no additional details at this time.
