by | Published
SAN ANTONIO, TX - A 46-year-old man is back in custody at the Bexar County Adult Detention Center after digital forensic investigators uncovered a trove of child pornography on his phone—contradicting his previous claims that his device had been compromised. Joel Garza was re-arrested on Saturday, January 24, 2026, following the results of a high-tech data extraction.
The investigation into Garza originally began on December 9, 2025, after a witness reported seeing a picture of an unclothed child on his screen.
When initially confronted by witnesses and later by Bexar County Sheriff's Office (BCSO) deputies, Garza admitted to taking at least one "invasive" photograph but insisted he was the victim of a cyberattack.
The Claim: Garza told investigators his phone had been "hacked" and that an outside party had manipulated his device or planted the images.
The Initial Arrest: He was taken into custody on December 10, 2025, primarily on an unrelated warrant, while investigators seized his phone for a deep-dive forensic audit.
On January 24, BCSO investigators received the final forensic report from the digital lab. The extraction revealed:
Multiple Files: A significant number of photographs featuring underage females were found stored on the device.
Metadata Proof: The digital fingerprints (metadata) confirmed the photos were taken using the phone’s own camera hardware while in Garza's possession.
No Breach: Forensic experts found no evidence of third-party "hacking" or outside compromise as Garza had alleged.
With the forensic evidence in hand, the BCSO secured a new warrant for Possession of Child Pornography. Garza was located and apprehended without incident.
Sheriff Javier Salazar has previously noted that in cases like these, the BCSO often searches for additional victims who may have been photographed without their knowledge in public or private spaces.
