Texas pastor accused of filming visitors on spy cameras, downloading child sex abuse image
A Grapevine pastor has been arrested on charges of possessing child pornography and invasive visual recording, according to a statement from the Grapevine Police Department.
The man, identified by police as 38-year-old Arturo Alarcon, worked as an associate pastor at 121 Community Church and as a substitute teacher in the Grapevine-Colleyville Independent School District, police said.
Police discovered a downloaded image depicting child sexual abuse on Alarcon’s phone during the course of another investigation, authorities said.
That investigation began after a missionary couple reported finding spy cameras in their mobile home, which the church uses as temporary housing for visiting families, according to the statement. According to an arrest warrant affidavit, the couple found hidden cameras inside two alarm clocks and two wall plugs that were labeled “bug control” after hearing a noise coming from one of the clocks.
Police are analyzing electronics belonging to Alarcon and so far have not found evidence of other crimes or victims, officials said.
Alarcon served as a substitute teacher at Timberline Elementary and was immediately fired upon his arrest, officials with Grapevine-Colleyville ISD said in a statement on Friday, Dec. 6.
The suspect was placed on administrative leave from his associate pastor’s position and then terminated once he was arrested, officials with 121 Community Church said in a statement. Church officials said they are cooperating with the investigation.
Alarcon also volunteered with the Grapevine Community Outreach Center and its after-school program, police said.
He was arrested on Tuesday, Dec. 5, released on $15,000 bond on Wednesday, Dec. 6, according to Tarrant County Jail records.
According to the arrest warrant affidavit, Alarcon told police that he had seen the items found in the mobile home but that he did not buy them. He told police he had never seen the photo of child abuse that was found on his phone, the affidavit states.
Grapevine detectives planned to send his phone to the U.S. Secret Service to unlock an encrypted account, the warrant states. Alarcon told police that he did not set up the account and did not know about it, according to the document.
Police encourage parents to know the warning signs of child abuse and report any suspicions immediately. A list of signs and symptoms is available on the Alliance for Children website at allianceforchildren.org/signs-and-symptoms
This story was originally published December 6, 2024 at 3:10 PM.
