Hamilton man arrested in Coryell County child exploitation investigation

A Hamilton man is in the Coryell County Jail after investigators say online communications led them to allegations of child exploitation in Coryell County. The Coryell County Sheriff’s Office said 29-year-old Justin Williams was taken into custody Wednesday, May 7, by its Criminal Investigations Division with help from the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office. Investigators said electronic communication and online platforms were used in the case, and evidence gathered during the probe led to Williams’ arrest and criminal charges.

Under Texas law, online solicitation of a minor is addressed in Penal Code Section 33.021, and promotion of child pornography is covered by Penal Code Section 43.26. In many Texas cases, online solicitation of a minor is charged as a second-degree felony, which can carry up to 20 years in prison and a $10,000 fine. Promotion of child pornography is also commonly prosecuted as a second-degree felony with the same punishment range. Williams remained jailed while the case moves toward further court proceedings in Coryell County.

Sheriff’s officials said the investigation is still open and additional charges may be possible. No public court filing, bond amount or victim age had been released, and investigators have not said whether the case began with a tip, an undercover operation or a digital-forensics review. Anyone with information can call the Coryell County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division at (254) 865-7201.

For parents, the case is a reminder to watch for warning signs that an adult may be trying to isolate a child online, including requests for private chats, pressure to move off public apps, demands for photos, secret accounts or offers of gifts and money. Suspicious activity can also be reported through the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children’s CyberTipline, the nation’s centralized reporting system for suspected online child sexual exploitation. NCMEC said it received 20.5 million CyberTipline reports in 2024 and 36.2 million in 2023, and the system, created in 1998, forwards reports to the appropriate law-enforcement agency.