Kerr County Sheriff's deputies arrested an Ingram man Thursday on suspicion of sexually assaulting a 16-year-old child he met online.
Deputies took Richard Hernandez, 40, into custody and charged him with sexual assault of a child and possession of child pornography. Hernandez is in Kerr County Jail on a $150,000 bond.
"The KCSO will continue to work day and night to protect the children of Kerr County," Sheriff Larry Leitha said. "The facts, in this case, are disturbing."
Deputies said forensic examination of Hernandez's phone found a large amount of child pornography. Hernandez is a former Hill Country Youth Ranch employee, and the victim does not have a connection to the Ingram home for abused and neglected children.
"The encounter between Mr. Hernandez and the minor victim began via an online dating site and continued through social media," Leitha said. "Online dangers continue to be a growing threat to our youth."
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