Odessa Couple Facing Child Pornography Charges Could Make a Deal

ODESSA, TX- Two Odessa parents facing child pornography charges may be making a deal before heading to trial.

NewsWest 9 reported that Daniel and Amanda James entered into a plea of not guilty on the child pornography charges on Tuesday. On Wednesday, the two were offered a plea agreement.

The couple has until Jan. 19 to come to an agreement on the deal. If a deal is not made, the two parents will go to trial in February.

“Daniel and Amanda James were the subject of a child pornography investigation by the FBI, who executed a search warrant on their Odessa home on Aug. 16,” NewsWest 9 stated. “During the search, law enforcement spotted Daniel James attempting to drive past the house. He was recognized and stopped. A search warrant was given for the cell phone found inside Daniel’s vehicle, and several incriminating texts between Daniel and Amanda were found.”

At the time that the search warrant executed, Daniel and Amanda were not home, but three children ages 9, 11 and 14 were found inside.

Reports attained by NewsWest 9 included messages between the couple that showed that Daniel James had indicated that he was going to sodomize the boys in exchange for favorable treatment, including not receiving spankings and allowing them to go to the skate park and movies.  

The reports also included more messages from Daniel. The messages from Daniel claimed that the boys were okay with that treatment because they “don’t want to lose us.”

One of the children present during the search warrant was interviewed and was found to be one of the children featured in images shared between Daniel and Amanda through text messages.

“The child said that he and his younger brother were forced to engage in oral sodomy with Daniel James at least three times in the weeks prior, and that Daniel recorded the act on his cell phone.”

NewsWest 9 reported, “The child said that he and his younger brother were forced to engage in oral sodomy with Daniel James at least three times in the weeks prior, and that Daniel recorded the act on his cell phone.”

Amanda James was charged with receipt and possession of child pornography.

Daniel James was charged with production and possession of child pornography.

Both were found competent to stand trial on Tuesday, NewsWest 9 concluded.