A Mission substitute teacher accused of coercing a minor into producing child sexual abuse material will be held in federal custody pending trial.
During a detention hearing Thursday, U.S. Magistrate Judge Nadia S. Medrano ordered Edgar Aaron Hernandez, 30, of Mission, to stay behind bars, citing the continued threat he poses to the community.
“It’s not just the act of the offense, but what was associated with it — the complete disregard for these children in making these further threats,” Medrano said.
“And that’s where, under no circumstances, can I find that there are conditions or any combination of conditions that I could set that would reasonably assure the safety of the community. … And so, I will order you detained without bond pending trial,” the judge said.
Hernandez is accused of using the popular social media app, Snapchat, to solicit children into sending him sexually explicit photographs and videos.
Medrano also expressed concern that Hernandez had been employed in a position — as a substitute teacher — that put him in close proximity to children.
It was a concern federal prosecutors stressed as they pressed for Hernandez to be held without bond.
While authorities currently know of one victim, Hernandez has admitted to victimizing dozens of children.
“The investigation is ongoing. The government is seeking to identify any and all possible victims in this case,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Mitchell said.
“I would, at this point… tell the court that the 30 number that he provided is low,” he said.
At least some of those victims may be local, investigators said.
“There was multiple victims identified in the interview in the Rio Grande Valley area — two actually in the area that he resides,” U.S. Secret Service Special Agent Stephen McCann said.
The allegations against Hernandez first came to light on April 4, when a man in Springfield, Illinois reported to police there that a man had been threatening his 13-year-old daughter for nude photos.
The child “sent nude images to a man in Texas and that man was threatening to disseminate the images already sent if she did not send him more nude images,” reads the federal criminal complaint against Hernandez.
Springfield police began investigating the claims and soon turned the information over to federal law enforcement in September.
Investigators with the Rio Grande Valley Child Exploitation Investigations Task Force later associated the IP address involved in the communication with the Illinois girl to Hernandez, the complaint states.
On Dec. 2, U.S. Secret Service agents arrested Hernandez at Mission High School, where he was working as a substitute teacher.
He admitted to soliciting sexually explicit images from the Illinois girl, who is identified in the complaint as “MV1.”
Hernandez told investigators he thought the girl was 13 years old. He also said he had threatened her for more images.
“Hernandez told (special agents) that over the last two years he has solicited over 30 minor children via the internet for nude images and video,” the complaint states.
Prosecutors claim that Hernandez not only threatened to expose the children if they didn’t send him more child sex abuse material, but he also encouraged them to self-harm when his behavior caused them distress.
“When at least one minor… threatened suicide to Mr. Hernandez, he advised that he didn’t care if she did it and that she should go ahead because she was ugly,” Mitchell said.
“He’s manipulating them, he’s threatening them, and it’s his callous lack of regard for their personal safety that gives rise to the government’s concerns,” he said.
With the investigation against Hernandez ongoing, it remains unclear the total charges he will face. For now, he is being held on a charge of enticing a minor.
If found guilty, Hernandez faces up to 10 years in prison.
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