Diego Cortez, 24, used Snapchat to lure victims
Texas authorities arrested 24-year-old San Antonio resident Diego Cortez in Hays County on Thursday. Cortez, a registered sex offender, is accused of harboring and sexually trafficking a child victim.
He has been charged with harboring a runaway child, as well as a first-degree felony charge of child trafficking to engage in sexual conduct.
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The incident unfolded in Kyle, Texas, where reports emerged of a 10-year-old girl running away from home. It is believed that Cortez “enticed” her to leave her residence and brought her to San Antonio. However, he later returned her to Kyle that same afternoon.
Following these reports, Hays County authorities dispatched Sheriff’s deputies who conducted a traffic stop on a White 2022 Volkswagen leaving the Kyle area. During the stop, they identified Cortez as the suspect.
“Upon further investigation, deputies determined Cortez was a registered sex offender in San Antonio, Texas, and had lured the juvenile victim to leave her residence,” the Hays County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement.
Cortez reportedly interacted with minors on Snapchat using the usernames Dfordiegs and Slowbass4367. He is accused of posing as a teenager to gain the trust of underage victims.
Police believe Cortez had sex with the 10-year-old victim at least once.
“Through follow-up interviews, Hays County Sheriff’s Office investigators determined that, on more than one occasion, he had had sexual contact with the missing youth, as well as with other children in San Antonio and surrounding areas,” the sheriff’s office explained.
Officials are working to identify the remaining victims. Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact Sergeant Mark Opila at 512-393-7896.
The Hays County Sheriff’s Office is actively investigating this case. No additional details are available at this time.