Lockhart man faces child porn charges

By LPR Staff
Editor/POST-REGISTER

A Lockhart man was arrested on Monday and is being held in the Caldwell County Jail, facing more than 20 counts of Possession of Child Pornography.
An investigation that included representatives from the Attorney General’s Office and the Caldwell County District Attorney’s office, along with other agencies, yielded a

n indictment against James “Archie” Wells, III, 49.
In connection with that indictment, 421st District Judge Todd A. Blomerth signed a search warrant allowing officers to search his Peach Street home, where he was arrested on Monday.
The investigation into Wells’ computer usage and possible possession of child pornography was born from a September 2007 complaint that Wells had exposed himself to a 2-year-old child at the Lockhart Technology Center on Bois D’Arc Street.
An investigation into the allegation led police to three computers that Wells had used at the Technology Center, but that officials said were his personal property.
Wells was indicted in January on a charge of Indecency with a Child by Exposure.
The investigation into Wells’ activities led authorities to discover more than 400 image files and four videos on Wells’ computers that depicted obvious child pornography, along with evidence that Wells may have been sharing his “collection,” or enhancing it by communicating with other offenders of similar interest.
According to Caldwell County District Attorney Trey Hicks, Wells faces 22 counts of Possession of Child Pornography, and one charge of Indecency with a Child by Exposure. Both charges are third degree felonies that carry with them a possible jail sentence of 2 – 10 years. His cases are set before the Court on Tuesday.
Wells is currently being held in the Caldwell County Jail with bond set at $200,000. Should he make bond, his movements will be restricted, in that he is not to have computer access, contact with children under the age of 18, or to come within 300 feet of any school or public playground. Additionally, if he is released, he will be required to report weekly to the Caldwell County Community Supervision and Corrections Department Pretrial Services Officer.
Wells’ attorney, Douglas Behrendt could not be reached for comment on Wednesday.