MARSHALL, Texas -- A Harrison County man has been arrested and charged with a first-degree felony related to child exploitation following an investigation that began with a Cyber-Tip report.
On September 30, the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) Criminal Investigation Division, assisted by the Emergency Response and Jail teams and the Marshall Police Department’s Special Response Team, executed a residential search warrant and an arrest warrant at a home in Marshall.
The suspect, James Patrick Bailey, of 724 FM 2625 W, Marshall, was arrested. The investigation, which began in June 2025 after a referral from the North Texas Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Taskforce, revealed "disturbing and inappropriate videos and photographs of children" uploaded to a social media platform.
Search warrants for customer data identified Bailey as the account owner. The HCSO seized 23 electronic devices from the residence for forensic examination, with investigators expecting to find further evidence of child exploitation.
In addition to the primary charge, investigators also seized approximately 3.9 grams of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.
Bailey was charged with:
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Possession of Visual Material Depicting Sexual Assault (First-Degree Felony)
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Possession of a Controlled Substance Penalty Group 1 >=1g<4g (Third-Degree Felony)
Sheriff Fletcher emphasized the importance of the ICAC Taskforce membership, stating, "The protection of our children remains one of our highest priorities... My office will continue to dedicate every available resource to ensuring that our children are safe and that those who commit these monstrous crimes are held accountable.”
The HCSO Criminal Investigation Division is continuing its investigation.
