August 24, 2022
Enrique Gerardo Esquivel-Mesen, 48, of Wylie, Texas, was sentenced to 40 years in prison for three charges of Possession with Intent to Promote Child Pornography and one charge of Possession of Child Pornography, announced Collin County District Attorney Greg Willis. “Child predators who seek out images and videos of child pornography on these platforms, and then also make it available to other child predators, should know that Collin County law enforcement is always watching and my office stands ready to prosecute to the maximum extent of the law,” stated Willis after sentencing.
In March 2021, Plano Police Department Detective Jeff Rich conducted an online undercover investigation on the BitTorrent peer-to-peer file sharing network. During that investigation, Detective Rich discovered hundreds of images of child pornography being shared with other users from an account owned by Esquivel-Mesen.
Detective Chris Meehan, formerly of the Collin County District Attorney’s Office, took over the case and executed a search warrant for Esquivel-Mesen’s residence. On scene, Wylie Police Department Detective Chad Hermes interviewed Esquivel-Mesen, who confessed to collecting and sharing child pornography online. Later, digital forensic examinations of his computer revealed a collection of approximately 5,000 images and videos of child pornography.
The jury found Esquivel-Mesen guilty of all charges.
Judge Mark Rusch presided over the case. In punishment, prosecutors presented evidence that Esquivel-Mesen was also secretly recording a child with whom he resided with a hidden camera in the child’s bedroom.
The Court assessed punishment at the maximum of 20 years in prison for two second degree felony charges of Possession with Intent to Promote Child Pornography. These sentences will run consecutively, for a total of 40 years. The Court also assessed punishment at the maximum of 10 years in prison for the third degree felony charge of Possession of Child Pornography, as well as another 10 year sentence for the final Possession with Intent to Promote Child Pornography charge. The two 10-year sentences will run concurrently.
Assistant Criminal District Attorneys Carrie Thomas and Geeta Singletary prosecuted the case, assisted by District Attorney Investigator Linda Herrera and Victim Assistance Coordinator Casey Hendrix.
#####
