MCSO Makes Arrest in A.I. Generated Child Pornography Case Under New Law

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, TX -- The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office has made a significant arrest, leveraging a recently enacted state law to prosecute the production of child pornography created through artificial intelligence (A.I.).

MCSO deputies and detectives have arrested Roger McConnell, 66, for the production of child pornography using artificial intelligence. This arrest is the result of an investigation into the creation and distribution of illicit digital content. During the investigation, patrol deputies alongside detectives learned that McConnell used an AI platform to generate sexually explicit images depicting a minor. Evidence was recovered from multiple digital devices, and McConnell admitted to creating and altering the AI-generated content. He was taken into custody and charged with Possession of Child Pornography under Texas Penal Code §43.26, which now includes AI-generated or computer-fabricated depictions of minors engaged in sexual conduct.

McConnell’s charges directly relate to Texas Senate Bill 20 (SB 20), which was passed earlier this year and specifically addresses the evolving landscape of digital obscenity. This new law creates a felony offense for the possession or promotion of obscene visual material that appears to depict a child younger than 18 years old. Crucially, the statute clarifies that criminal liability applies regardless of whether the depiction is of an actual child, a cartoon, an animation, or an image created using A.I. or other computer software.

This case underscores the commitment of the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office to utilizing all available legal tools to protect children and adapt to new technologies exploited by offenders.

Roger McConnell remains in the Montgomery County jail at this time.

Due to the nature of this active and ongoing investigation, the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office is unable to release further details at this time.