A member of a popular Texas-based rock band is reportedly the subject of an investigation into whether he saved nude images of a 13-year-old girl police say he had likely been “grooming” for sexual abuse.
According to WFAA, Ringo Garza, the drummer for Los Lonely Boys, was the subject of an investigation after San Angelo authorities received a complaint from the teenage victim, identified in court documents as “A.G.”
In July, the girl reportedly contacted Garza’s wife to report inappropriate behavior, which allegedly included the suspect asking her to remove her clothes during an online video chat and capturing a screenshot of her exposed breasts.
Shortly thereafter, Garza’s wife reportedly contacted law enforcement. Police reports, however, indicate that she was also involved in some of the alleged inappropriate conduct.
Months prior to the girl’s complaint, authorities believe Garza and his wife showered with her, an act police said is “suggestive of sexual abuse.”
Investigators began to compile other alleged predatory acts by the suspect, such as ending conversations with A.G. by telling her that if she did not disrobe for him that he would be angry at her.
Police say that type of intimidation falls in line with a common practice among sex offenders known as “grooming,” in which victims are coerced into accepting an abuser’s demands.
While serving a search warrant at Garza’s home in July, officers reportedly collected 24 electronic devices that could have contained inappropriate images. That evidence has been turned over to experts for analysis and could result in possession of child pornography charges against the suspect.
Investigators remained tight-lipped regarding the status of an investigation one San Angelo police spokesperson would only confirm is “ongoing.”
Los Lonely Boys has not made a statement regarding the investigation into the band’s drummer.
As the Houston Chronicle reported, Garza faced accusations of date rape in 2005.
[Featured image: Youtube/Senora Scott (screenshot)]