TEXAS
KFOX 14
By Jesse Martinez
EL PASO, Texas —
A youth minister accused of possessing pornographic images of children plead guilty and faces up to 30 years in prison, according to federal officials.
U.S. attorney Robert Pitman and FBI Special Agent in Charge Mark Morgan announced that Joe Tapia, 46, pleaded guilty to solicitation of material relating to the sexual exploitation of children. Tapia made his plea Thursday before U.S. District Judge Frank Montalvo.
Tapia admitted that he had images of child pornography as well as a sexually explicit instant messenger chat with a 16-year-old male on his work computer.
Tapia also admitted that he recorded video and still images of two individuals while they were changing for a church performance.
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