Grand Jury Indicts Local Daycare Worker for Producing Child Pornography

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – The daycare worked arrested earlier this month on allegations she produced child pornography has been indicted by a federal grand jury, announced U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson. Christina Cortez, 38, of Corpus Christi, allegedly produced the graphic images while working at a daycare facility in Corpus Christi and further distributed them to Matthew Harbin, 29, of Brownsville. Harbin was also indicted.

Cortez was ordered into custody following a detention hearing held after the filing of a criminal complaint. At that hearing, the court found probable cause she committed the crimes alleged and a danger to the community and ordered she be detained pending further criminal proceedings. Harbin was already in state custody on related charges and has been transferred to federal custody. Both are expected to make an initial appearance on the indictment returned today in the near future.

The indictment charges both with production of child pornography.

According to the criminal complaint, the case began after Harbin was identified as providing images to an undercover officer in England. Using the email address dirtysickmind@yahoo.com, Harbin allegedly first provided three photos of a child clothed and not sexually posed, but that appeared to be taken at a daycare facility. The complaint alleges that he stated he had more pictures, wanted to trade and asked the person if they had a daughter and how young they were “in to.” Harbin later allegedly sent five more pictures of what appears to be the same female child, but that were sexually explicit in nature. One image depicts the child laying down on a blue mat with her dress lifted and her lower body exposed, according to the charges. Other images allegedly depict an adult female’s hand making contact with a child’s private area.

Further investigation revealed Harbin had previously received the images from Cortez in July 2014, according to the complaint. In their communications, Cortez claimed to work at a daycare facility where she allegedly obtained the images. Cortez allegedly sent images of the same female child involved in sexually explicit conduct. The child’s genitals appear to be the focus of all three of the aforementioned images, according to the complaint, one of which includes the child fondling herself.

In their communications, both Harbin and Cortez allegedly indicate a desire to engage with children. During one conversation, the complaint alleges Cortez told Harbin “I would love to watch us with her. 2 & half.”

If convictedboth face a minimum of 15 and up to 30 years in federal prison

The charges are the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations and the Corpus Christi Police Department - Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.

This case, prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Hugo R. Martinez, was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."

An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence.
A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.