STAFF REPORTS

A Lockhart man faces 22 child pornography possession charges after being indicted on Tuesday by a Caldwell County grand jury.

James Archie Wells III, 49, is accused of having images of children engaged in sexual acts on the hardrive of his home computer. The Lockhart police departments and the state attorney general’s office began investigating him in September after he allegedly exposed himself to a child.

Each count is a second-degree felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine.

Wells was arrested at his home yesterday after the indictments were handed down; a grand jury determines if there is enough evidence to warrant a trial, not guilt or innocence of people charged with crimes.

In a written statement, Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott thanked Caldwell County District Attorney Richard Hicks and said his Cyber Crimes United “will continue identifying and arresting online criminals.” Since 2003, the unit has arrested 700 people of accused of sexual crimes against children, resulting in 80 men convicted of child pornography charges.

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