Texas Pastor Arrested for Spy Cameras, Possession of Child Porn
Arturo Alarcon has been terminated from his position at 121 Community Church.
A former associate pastor at 121 Community Church in Grapevine, Texas, was arrested last week for possession of child pornography and invasive visual recording.
Arturo Alacorn
The investigation of Arturo Alarcon, 38, began after the church contacted police with a report that a missionary couple had found spy cameras in the mobile home where they were housed by the church, according to a report by WFAA.
According to the arrest affidavit, the missionary couple located hidden cameras in two alarm clocks and two wall plugs labeled “Bug Control.”
Elvis Gallegos, another associate minister at 121 Community Church, reportedly told police these cameras were not provided by the church nor was he sure who had placed them in the mobile home nor how long they had been there.
The missionary husband, also an engineer, noticed a noise coming from one alarm clock. He turned it off then proceeded to look at it more closely. When he discovered what appeared to be a camera in it, he searched Amazon and found a similar clock that included a spy camera.
According to the missionaries, only Alarcon, a pest control company, and possibly one other minister had the entry code to the home.
When police contacted Alarcon, he admitted to knowing the devices were in the home, but said they were donated and not purchased by him.
In searching Alarcon’s phone, police discovered a sexually-oriented photo of a 5-year-old child, which Alarcon denied ever seeing.
The Grapevine police are forwarding Alarcon’s phone to the U.S. Secret Service to unlock an encrypted account on his phone, WFAA reported. When questioned, Alarcon claimed he didn’t know about the account, didn’t set it up, and didn’t know who did.
In a statement to WFAA, the church confirmed Alarcon’s arrest and his termination from employment.
“It is with great sadness that we must inform you that Arturo Alarcon was arrested on charges of possessing child pornography and invasive visual recording,” the statement said.
It went on to explain about the discovery of the device and the church’s report to the Grapevine Police Department.
“The Grapevine Police Department subsequently arrested and charged Mr. Alarcon, and we terminated his employment. The Grapevine Police Department has stated that the investigation is ongoing and there is no evidence of additional crimes. We have been in contact with the Grapevine Police Department and continue to cooperate with the investigation,” the statement said.
In addition to his position at the church, Alarcon was a volunteer with the Grapevine Community Outreach Center and an after-school program. He also was a substitute teacher in the Grapevine-Colleyville Independent School District.
A statement to WFAA by the district confirmed Alarcon’s work as a substitute teacher and his termination.
“The district remains in close contact with the Grapevine Police Department and will provide more information to our community if any evidence reveals any additional connection to the school district,” the statement says.
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