Weatherford photographer gets 4 years in child porn cases

A freelance photographer who often shot Weatherford school sports events has been sentenced to four years in prison on child pornography charges.

Parker County prosecutors said Dax Morgan, 40, took improper photos of six girls and one boy, mostly at his Weatherford home in 2013.

Morgan, who owned Touchline Studios in Weatherford, pleaded guilty on July 7 to 18 counts of promotion of child pornography, three counts of improper photography or visual recording and one count of indecency with a child.

In the plea agreement with prosecutors, Morgan was sentenced to four years on each promotion count and the indecency with a child count. He also received a year each on the three improper photography or visual recording counts. The sentences will run concurrently.

He must serve two years before he is eligible for parole, and he must register as a sex offender for life, prosecutor Robert DuBoise said Wednesday.

“The victims were supportive of the plea agreement because it ensured that Mr. Morgan will be held accountable for his actions, have to serve time in prison, and register as a sex offender for the rest of his life,” DuBoise said in an email. “These victims have just recently graduated from high school or are about to graduate, and the agreement allowed them to move forward with their lives.”

Morgan was first arrested Sept. 30, 2013, after the parents of a then-16-year-old girl called the Parker County sheriff’s department. The girl told deputies that she met Morgan on the sidelines of a Weatherford High School football game, according to an arrest warrant affidavit. He eventually asked her to join him for a “photo shoot” at his house. There, he took photos of the girl clothed and unclothed, and gave the girl a full body massage.

The girl stayed overnight. The following morning, the girls’ parents saw a text message to their daughter from Morgan. They then contacted the sheriff’s department.

On Sept. 28, 2013, after getting a search warrant, deputies seized a computer, cameras, massage oils, the girl’s and other items from Morgan’s home, according to the affidavit.

Morgan admitted that he had taken “risque” photos of the girl, including a picture of her breasts but deleted it after showing it to her, the affidavit said.

Morgan was arrested. Parker County jail records showed that he was released on bail on the condition that he avoid contact with children under age 17 unrelated to him, including phone calls, emails, social media or text messaging. He was re-arrested a few days later after he violated the terms of release.

This report includes material from the Star-Telegram archives.

This story was originally published July 15, 2015 at 6:56 PM with the headline "Weatherford photographer gets 4 years in child porn cases."