Mother Claims Adult/Child Relationship was Consensual

SAN ANGELO, TX – The mother of the underaged girl in the John Brenneis child sex charge is claiming that Brenneis was given permission to be with her daughter.

As previously reported, on June 14, 2023, John Brenneis, 20, of San Angelo, was arrested for sexual assault of a child. For the original story see: San Angelo Man Jailed for Filming Interludes with His Minor Girlfriend

Court documents state that Brenneis had a long term relationship with the girl who was a minor. The inappropriate relationship allegedly began when the teen was 13 according to investigators. Brenneis and the minor girl allegedly had sex a number of times. The suspect and the victim recorded some those interludes.  Brenneis was arrested and charged because of the video recordings.

Tasha Truelove is the mother of the minor victim and disagrees with the arrest. She claims that when the relationship began the child was only 15 years old. Truelove said in a statement to San Angelo LIVE! that Brenneis had moved in with her family in Feb. 2022, just two months after dating the teen.

"He moved in with us and my family opened up our arms so this young man had a good family surrounding for him and him and my daughter had good surrounding he lived in the camper on the property he paid bills and was doing good in life and keeping his head up," said Truelove in a statement. "Their relationship was a normal we as a family and me being her mother was okay with it."

Despite how she feels, in the state of Texas it is illegal for anyone over the age of 18 to have sex with anyone under the age of 17. If convicted, Brenneis could spend up to 20 years in prison and pay up to $10,000 in fines. As for now Brenneis, is in the Tom Green County Jail with a $50,000 bond.

The following is the full statement from Tasha Truelove:

My name is Tasha Truelove. I am the mother Of the Girl Friend. MY daughter and mr Brennies started dating in Dec.27 2021    She was 15   and he was 18.  i meet John he was vry respectful , sweet and caring and i liked him he was okay kid.  He came to my parents house and he meet my family. my parents and i  meet him and they loved him  He went to family dinners and we all got along as a family.  In Feburary of 2022, He moved in with  us and my family opened up our arms  so this young man had a good family surrounding for him and him and my daughter had good surrounding he lived in the camper on the property  he paid  bills and was doing good in life and keeping his head up..  Their relationship was a normal we as a family and me being her  motherwas okay with it. She was and he had just turned 19 in february. he was working she was going to school online. i knew all things they did and where they went they were good kids.  John helped  take care of his girlfriends passing grandma  and when she did pass he was there for her.  He always made sure she was taken care of he never did anything inapporiate  to her or endangered her well being to the degree and harm.  their relationship was always consensual.  She always told me about their relationship and what was going on. Yes i said they could date.   They was always good to eachother He has never harmed her.  She was never 13 she was 15. If you dont like the point okay. people see him as monster   he is  not.. I talk to her about the relationship  with him before it went futher  and she was really sure and i let her know what others thought  and she dosent care  she is happy and that is all she thought and that is what i cared about. they love eachother even though they cant be togather now  cause of this  they still love eachother. they spent  almost over two years before  their world was tore apart cause of this so take in mind and  get all the facts on both parties thank u