Cardenas Facing Federal Charges of Possessing Child Porn

SAN ANGELO, TX – Dave Cardenas, 37, was arrested in San Angelo Wednesday on federal charges of possession of child pornography. 

The federal charges stem from the same investigation that landed Cardenas in jail in June.  

Cardenas was arrested earlier this year by Tom Green County Sheriff's Deputies following an investigation.

As we reported earlier, Cardenas was charged with 25 counts of possession of child pornography in June. Each count carries a $20,000 bond and his cumulative bond was set at $500,000.

According to the arrest affidavit, Dave Cardenas was discovered via an investigative scan using the system set up by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

The system showed Cardenas downloading images from tagged servers, alerting Sheriff’s Office detectives. The investigation led the investigators to the 1400 block of Tempe Post Dr.

Cardenas waived his Miranda Rights and admitted to investigators that he “viewed, possessed, and downloaded images and video files” of minor children—kids younger than 18 years old.

His first federal count was visual depiction of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct, and his second federal count was possession of prepubescent child pornography

In his first count, he had seven pictures or videos of males under the age of 18, and four pictures or videos of females under the age of 18.

In his second count he had at least one image of child pornography involving a prepubescent minor who had not yet reached the age of 12.

Cardenas forced to forfeit his cell phone and iPad.

His Arraignment and Detention Hearing will be on Tuesday, October 23 in Abilene.

Dave Cardenas is currently in the Taylor County Jail in Abilene without bond. 

In Texas, child pornography convictions require the defendant to register as a sex offender for the remainder of his life.