OAG Collaborates with Local Law Enforcement Agencies to Bring Child Predators to Justice in Gregg County
During the weeklong operation, CEU investigators conducted a proactive undercover investigation online. The four suspects were arrested after they arrived at a predetermined location to meet with children they solicited for sexual contact. Individuals arrested by CEU investigators during the joint operation are: Johnny K. Houston, Jr., Joaquin Amilcar Pineda, Shane Jeffrey Chapman and Nehemias Pineda.
OAG’s Child Exploitation Unit Arrests Williamson County Man for Possession of Child Pornography
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced yesterday that the Child Exploitation Unit (CEU) of his office arrested 55-year-old Joe Lawrence Islas, of Round Rock, on three counts of Possession of Child Pornography, a third-degree felony. Islas could face up to 10 years in prison per charge if convicted.
AG Paxton Intervenes in Lawsuit to Protect Religious Freedom of Montgomery County Judge Wayne Mack
“The lawsuit against Judge Mack is an affront to religious liberty and yet another attempt to push religious expression from public life. The commission’s prayer practice, like Judge Mack’s courtroom prayer, is completely consistent with our nation’s history of protecting religious expression.”
AG Paxton: Texas Joins 17-States Filing Amicus Brief to Support School Rights
“Schools are facing the potential loss of federal funding all because local educators are exercising the authority to implement common-sense policies that best protect their students’ privacy, safety and dignity,” Attorney General Paxton said. “Texas has led the fight to prevent the Department of Education from unilaterally rewriting federal law. Title IX permits schools to maintain separate facilities, including bathrooms and locker rooms, and the 4th Circuit should recognize this principle.”
AG Paxton Files Lawsuit to Uphold Constitutionality of Texas Sanctuary Cities Law
“SB 4 is constitutional, lawful and a vital step in securing our borders,” Attorney General Paxton said. “SB 4 guarantees cooperation among federal, state and local law enforcement to protect Texans. Unfortunately, some municipalities and law enforcement agencies are unwilling to cooperate with the federal government and claim that SB 4 is unconstitutional.”
AG Paxton Statement Regarding President Trump’s Executive Order on Free Speech and Religious Liberty
“Recently, Governor Abbott and I called on Congress to pass the Free Speech Fairness Act. That legislation will fully restore the freedom of churches to participate in political debates by removing a 60 year old provision of the IRS code ”“ the Johnson Amendment ”“ which threatens churches with the loss of their tax-exempt status if they take a stand on legislation or candidates. Today’s executive order by President Trump is an important first step to protect our country’s first liberty ”“ religious liberty. By enacting the Free Speech Fairness Act (H.R. 781 and S. 264), we can guarantee that the voices of churches and people of faith reclaim their rightful place in our democracy.”
AG Paxton Hails Victory Over Stream Protection Rule
“Fighting federal overreach and protecting Texas sovereignty is a cornerstone of my office,” Attorney General Paxton said. “We are grateful to solidify yet another victory for Texans. We will continue to fight rules that trample state sovereignty and displace hardworking men and women.”
Texas Leads 14-State Coalition Asking U.S. Supreme Court to Uphold Arizona’s Driver’s License Policy on Undocumented Aliens
“We stand with Arizona against illegal federal overreach by the former president, who bypassed Congress to enact an immigration program he did not have the authority to create,” Attorney General Paxton said. “We’re hopeful the U.S. Supreme Court will review the case and conclude that states have the right to decide who gets a driver’s license.”
AG Paxton: Texas Joins 22-State Coalition in Brief Defending Legislative Prayer
“Not only has legislative prayer persisted across the country for more than a century, the practice of legislative prayer has persistently included lawmakers themselves exercising their own religious liberty by opening legislative meetings in prayer,” the attorneys general wrote. They noted that lawmakers lead prayer in one or both legislative chambers in 35 states, including Texas.
OAG’s Child Exploitation Unit Arrests Williamson County Man for Possession of Child Pornography
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced that earlier this week the Child Exploitation Unit (CEU) of his office arrested 26-year-old Joshua Carl Wulff, of Leander, on four counts of Possession of Child Pornography, a third-degree felony. Wulff could face up to 10 years in prison per charge if convicted.