By Karen Gleason
The 830 Times
Editor’s note: The Del Rio Police Department issued a press release regarding Tidd’s arrest in August, but the press release did not include many of the facts and information contained in the story. The report on the arrest was just recently released by the Del Rio Police Department.
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A 31-year-old Del Rio man has been arrested and charged with soliciting a minor online after he contacted what he believed was a 13-year-old girl and arranged to meet her for sex, Del Rio police said.
Jonathon Curtis Tidd, 113 Sagebrush Trail, was arrested Aug. 9 and charged with the offense of online solicitation of a minor under 14 years of age, a second-degree felony, according to a report released recently by the Del Rio Police Department.
In an affidavit filed in the case, DRPD Cpl. Trevor Snyder reported he received a call from one of the police department’s patrol officers at 10:20 p.m. on Aug. 9.
The officer, Snyder said, “advised (police) dispatch was contacted by a group identifying themselves as ‘Predator Poachers.’”
“The officer advised me they were with a 31-year-old male who admitted to having child pornography at 113 Sagebrush Trail. Due to the nature of the call, I advised the officer I would contact (the group) and take over the call for service,” Snyder wrote.
Snyder said he made contact with a woman identified as Aubrey Alexander “who advised she poses as a decoy 13-year-old female identified as ‘Maddie.’”
Snyder said Alexander told him the rest of her group was at 113 Sagebrush, and she was currently waiting at 103 Sagebrush Trail.
“Upon arrival at 103 Sagebrush, I (made) contact with Alexander, who stated the male subject at 113 Sagebrush the rest of her team was with was soliciting her for sexual acts as she posed as ‘Maddie’ on the social media platform Instagram,” Snyder wrote.
Snyder said Alexander told him she had printouts of exchanges with the man, identified as Tidd, including an admission Tidd reportedly made to another team member “of having child pornography on his phone.”
Snyder reported he next went to 113 Sagebrush, where he met with another Predator Poachers team member, identified as Alex Rosen.
“Rosen provided me printed screen shot messages between ‘Maddie’ and Tidd. At the top of the page, it states ‘Jonathon Tidd’ with the username of ‘tidd495’,” Snyder wrote.
Snyder said he observed several sexually suggestive messages, allegedly sent by Tidd to ‘Maddie.’
“Due to the nature of the messages, I advised Tidd he would be placed under arrest for online solicitation of a minor under 14 years of age. Tidd was taken into custody and transported to the Del Rio Police Department,” Snyder wrote.
Snyder said after he returned to the police station, he contacted agents with the Department of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) for further assistance in the investigation.
Two HSI agents made their way to the police station to assist Snyder.
“After advising them of the incident, an interview was conducted on Tidd. Tidd was advised of his rights, which he waived with a signature. During the interview, Tidd confessed to believing ‘Maddie’ was 13 years old and inviting her to his residence to conduct sexual acts,” Snyder wrote.
Snyder wrote, “Tidd also admitted to speaking to an 11-year-old female in the same matter, which will be investigated further by HSI. Tidd also admitted having child pornography on his cell phone, which was seized by HSI.”
Justice of the Peace Pct. 4 Hilda Lopez set a bond of $60,000 in the case against Tidd.
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