HEMPSTEAD, Texas – A man accused of having and trading pornographic images of children has been jailed with a high bond.
William A. Wameling III, 26, of Hempstead, has been charged with 10 counts of possession of child pornography. His bond was set at $10,000 per charge, for a total of $1 million.
Waller County sheriff's deputies said their investigation into Wameling's online activities began earlier this month.
Investigators said agents tracked Wameling through his Internet service provider address.
Wameling, a stepfather to three girls, was downloading and sharing sexually graphic photos of girls as young as 4 years old, investigators said.
Detectives said Wameling confessed, but he told investigators that he only had 200 images.
Agents seized three cellular phones, three hard drives, two computers and three cameras from Wameling's home, deputies said.
Wameling was training to become a firefighter in Hempstead.