The Texarkana Police Deparment said that on September 12, 2024, 20-year-old Trenton Weddel of Texarkana was apprehended for the possession of over 50 items of child pornography following the execution of a search warrant at his residence located in the 4600 block of Summerhill Road last Thursday.
The investigation started earlier this month after the police department received a notification from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Investigators were informed that a widely used social media platform had alerted them to an incident involving an IP address in Texarkana, Texas, which was used to upload a pornographic video featuring a young girl.
Detective Casey Schmidt quickly identified Weddel as the individual associated with both the social media account and the IP address mentioned in the tip. Further investigation revealed multiple videos and images of child pornography on Weddel's account, prompting the acquisition of an arrest warrant.
Detectives located and arrested Weddel at his apartment on Thursday morning. A search warrant was subsequently executed to find any electronic devices or digital storage that might contain evidence of child pornography. Weddel is currently detained at the Bi-State Jail with a bond set at $200,000. Information gathered during the investigation indicates that children from the apartment complex were frequently seen entering Weddel's residence.
Although there is no direct evidence at this time suggesting that any of these children were victimized, we are understandably concerned about the possibility of inappropriate conduct.
If you believe your child may have been in Weddel's apartment, please contact Detective Schmidt at 903-798-3116.
