Re: Registered Democrat sex offender accused of finding 10-year-old victim on Snapchat, arrested in Hays County

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HAYS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — A registered sex offender was arrested in Hays 
County Sunday in connection with child sex trafficking, according to the 
Hays County Sheriff’s Office.

HCSO said 24-year-old Diego Alejandro Cortez was taken into custody in 
Kyle and charged with harboring a runaway child, a Class A misdemeanor. An 
additional charge of child trafficking to engage in sexual conduct, a 
first-degree felony, was later added, according to officials.

Cortez was previously arrested for at least two additional incidents since 
2021. He was placed on the Texas Public Sex Offender Registry in May 2023, 
according to court documents.

In addition to admitting to sexually assaulting the runaway child, Cortez 
told police that he’s communicated with several other girls and arranged 
to meet with them to engage in sexual acts, according to an arrest warrant 
affidavit.

Cortez does not have an attorney listed online.

HCSO said Cortez was accused of enticing a 10-year-old victim to leave her 
home, and on more than one occasion, having sex with the missing child as 
well as other children in and around San Antonio.

“Based on information provided, investigators know Cortez met his 
potential victims online, through the social media platform Snapchat, and 
would portray himself as a young teen in attempt to gain their trust,” 
HCSO said, adding he used the profile names Dfordiegs and Slowbass4367.

According to police documents, the victim’s sister, who is also underage, 
called to report her sister missing in the early hours of July 2. Later 
that morning, the child’s mother was able to get in contact with her, and 
she returned home.

Cortez’s vehicle was seen at the victim’s residence when the child 
returned home. When Cortez’s vehicle left the area July 2, police stopped 
the car. At the traffic stop, Cortez admitted to being with the victim and 
later admitted to sexually assaulting her, according to the arrest warrant 
affidavit.

Cortez told police that the two used electronic means to communicate, per 
the documents.

“During the investigation, [police] learned also that Cortez had been 
using Snapchat essentially to groom this 10-year-old female,” Deputy 
Anthony Hipolito of the Hays County Sheriff’s Office told KXAN.

‘It’s very common.’
“They portray themselves as being a minor themselves,” Hipolito said. “As 
they develop that relationship over time…they groom the child to 
essentially trust them. It goes on for a certain amount of time until that 
child, or that victim, feels comfortable leaving their house and going to 
meet this person,” Hipolito continued. “It’s very common.”

“Stories like what just happened in San Antonio are happening in cities 
all across Texas, in states all across the country,” said David Dunmoyer, 
who works on technology policy for the Texas Public Policy Foundation. 

He said social media has several deleterious effects on minors, but one of 
the most dangerous is sex trafficking. In an article, TPPF reported that 
55% of survivors first met their trafficker online. 

“It’s ruining kids’ lives; it’s ruining families. And there are instances 
where, for example, this 10-year-old girl – she’s never going to be the 
same again,” he continued. 

Dunmoyer encouraged parents to monitor their children’s social media 
consumption to protect them from becoming a victim. 

“There are different filters that exist parents can use to exercise more 
control, and seeing not just how many minutes are spending on apps, [but] 
what they’re actually doing in the app,” he continued. “It’s not just 
Snapchat, it’s not just Instagram – any of these tools can be a tool for 
evil. And so looking at what apps are going to be a benefit to my child.” 

Hipolito also encouraged parents to have frank discussions with their 
children about the risks of social media.

“We have to have those conversations. No matter how uncomfortable it is, 
we have to have those conversations,” Hipolito said. “As a parent, you 
have to do everything in your power to keep your child safe, you do not 
want your child to become a victim of a sexual predator like Mr. Cortez.”

Anyone with information regarding this investigation or if you believe 
your child was a victim, contact Sergeant Mark Opiela with the Hays County 
Sheriff’s Office at 512-393-7896 or email [email protected].

Tips can also be submitted anonymously through Crime Stoppers by calling 
1-800- 324-TIPS or submitting your information online to Tip Line 
P3tips.com as well as submitting a tip on the Hays County Sheriff’s Office 
App.

“Stories like what just happened in San Antonio are happening in cities 
all across Texas, in states all across the country,” said David Dunmoyer, 
who works on technology policy for the Texas Public Policy Foundation. 

He said social media has several deleterious effects on minors, but one of 
the most dangerous is sex trafficking. In an article, TPPF reported that 
55% of survivors first met their trafficker online. 

“It’s ruining kids’ lives; it’s ruining families. And there are instances 
where, for example, this 10-year-old girl – she’s never going to be the 
same again,” he continued. 

Dunmoyer encouraged parents to monitor their children’s social media 
consumption to protect them from becoming a victim. 

“There are different filters that exist parents can use to exercise more 
control, and seeing not just how many minutes are spending on apps, [but] 
what they’re actually doing in the app,” he continued. “It’s not just 
Snapchat, it’s not just Instagram – any of these tools can be a tool for 
evil. And so looking at what apps are going to be a benefit to my child.” 

Hipolito also encouraged parents to have frank discussions with their 
children about the risks of social media.

“We have to have those conversations. No matter how uncomfortable it is, 
we have to have those conversations,” Hipolito said. “As a parent, you 
have to do everything in your power to keep your child safe, you do not 
want your child to become a victim of a sexual predator like Mr. Cortez.”

Anyone with information regarding this investigation or if you believe 
your child was a victim, contact Sergeant Mark Opiela with the Hays County 
Sheriff’s Office at 512-393-7896 or email [email protected].

Tips can also be submitted anonymously through Crime Stoppers by calling 
1-800- 324-TIPS or submitting your information online to Tip Line 
P3tips.com as well as submitting a tip on the Hays County Sheriff’s Office 
App.

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