Attorney General Ken Paxton today announced that the Child Exploitation Unit (CEU) of his office arrested 61-year-old Sean Nicholas Berridge, of Colmesneil, Texas, on two counts of possession of child pornography, a third-degree felony.
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) referred the case to the CEU after receiving a CyberTipline report accusing Berridge of uploading child pornography to an online account.
While executing a search warrant at Berridge’s residence, investigators found images of child pornography on his cell phone. They also seized numerous digital storage devices that will be examined by the attorney general’s Digital Forensics Unit. During an interview with investigators, Berridge admitted he downloaded, viewed and saved files of child pornography.
Attorney General Paxton’s office works to protect children by using the latest technology to track down some of the most profoundly evil predators online. Since its inception, the Child Exploitation Unit has made 332 arrests and obtained nearly 600 convictions for possession of child pornography.
Attorney General Paxton urges all parents and teachers to become aware of the risks children face on the internet and take steps to help ensure their safety. If you suspect someone is producing or downloading child pornography, please report it to NCMEC. For more information on cyber safety, please visit: