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SAPD: reports of obscene materials and nonconsensual-image offenses up 15% year-over-year; department cites tech, peer-sharing and improved reporting
Summary
Assistant Chief Jesse Solomey told the Public Safety Committee reports in the NIBRS obscene materials category rose from 166 incidents in Q1 2025 to 191 in Q1 2026, driven by unlawful disclosure of intimate images, sextortion and increases in possession/promotion of child exploitation material; he described investigative pathways, preservation orders and prevention outreach.
Assistant Chief Jesse Solomey briefed the Public Safety Committee on a citywide uptick in obscene materials and nonconsensual-image offenses, attributing the rise to a mixture of increased sharing via smartphones and apps, greater awareness and reporting, and more robust investigative capacity.
Solomey told the committee that first-quarter reports rose from 166 incidents in Q1 2025 to 191 incidents in Q1 2026, a roughly 15 percent increase. He said three offense categories accounted for most of the rise: unlawful disclosure or promotion of intimate visual material (commonly referred to as revenge porn), sexual coercion/sextortion, and possession or promotion of child sexual-exploitation material. Solomey said the unlawful disclosure category represented roughly 101 of the 191 reported incidents; sextortion made up about 40 cases; and the largest increase came in cases involving child sexual-exploitation material, often peer-to-peer sharing among teens rather than organized trafficking.
On process, Solomey described how an initial officer takes the report (whether at headquarters, a substation or on-scene), documents evidence (phone or web links) and refers the matter to a follow-up investigative unit—either the Special Victims Unit (SVU) or the Human Exploitation Unit—depending on the offense. He said detectives seek voluntary downloads, preservation orders and, when required, subpoenas; he noted varying platform response times (Google and Facebook generally quicker, others slower).
Councilmembers asked how legislative changes are communicated to officers and how victims are supported. Solomey said legislative updates are provided each year (new laws take effect Sept. 1) through police email and required in-service training; unit-specific training is provided by SVU when necessary. He said victims are referred to the victim advocacy unit and that callers receive case cards with follow-up numbers for SVU or Human Exploitation.
On law and definitions, Solomey told the committee the Texas Penal Code does not define the contested term precisely; instead the state relies on U.S. Supreme Court case law to guide obscenity determinations. He also referenced a bipartisan "take it down" mechanism that requires platforms to remove reported material within 48 hours after a report from their platform, and he said law enforcement can also report removals. Councilmembers requested an offline list of delegate agencies and victim service providers, and Solomey agreed to provide that list.
Solomey emphasized prevention and school-based education as primary strategies alongside investigations and noted two investigative units (SVU and Human Exploitation Unit) that handle these cases and the digital forensics and federal partnerships required for cross-jurisdictional work.
Committee members indicated support for stronger outreach, education for parents and students, and continued collaboration between police, schools and nonprofit partners. Solomey committed to provide requested resource lists and to follow up on average case timeliness where feasible.
The committee recorded no vote on policy changes; the briefing concluded with follow-up requests for resource lists and further data.
