by | Published
Bishoy Mina Elkhaliny, a 36-year-old inmate at the Dominguez State Jail in Bexar County, has been accused of attempting to coerce five young girls into sex through his state jail-issued iPad. Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar addressed the media in a press conference, describing the case as "very confusing."
Elkhaliny faces charges of online solicitation of a minor under 14 years of age for allegedly using the jail-issued iPad to contact and solicit nude photos from five young girls. Sheriff Salazar explained that Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) inmates can communicate with individuals outside the jail through the iPad.
Sheriff Salazar revealed that two victims are from Bexar County, while three are from Tarrant and Dallas counties. Child Protective Services (CPS) raised concerns about two victims from San Antonio, aged 12 and 15, leading to an investigation by the Bexar County Sheriff's Office.
In an earlier incident, 34-year-old Mariam Said Elkhaliny made a domestic violence complaint against Bishoy. During that situation, her children were taken away from the home by CPS. In an effort to regain custody of her children, Mariam was warned by CPS to cut contact with Bishoy. However, she continued communicating with him, raising red flags for a CPS investigator. The investigator also found that Mariam had married Bishoy earlier this year. During the CPS inquiry into Mariam's actions, the investigator dicovered some of the sexual conversations that Bishoy was having with the minor girls. That's when the Bexar County Sheriff's Office was contacted and began their own investigation.
During the BCSO investigation, it was found that Bishoy is first cousin of Mariam and she is already married to another man, the father of her children. As a result, Mariam was arrested and charged with bigamy, a third-degree felony. Her children have since been removed and are under the care of CPS.
“In the state of Texas, there was a change to the law that you can be married to your cousin but can’t have sexual relations with your cousin,” Salazar said.
Sheriff Salazar clarified that the Bexar County Sheriff's Office (BCSO) will be taking the lead in the investigation into the communication with the five minor girls, including those from Tarrant and Dallas counties. Emphasizing that the crime originated and the investigation began in Bexar County.
Additional charges may be forthcoming as the investigation unfolds.
