The Disturbing Reason a Texas Man Was Arrested and Charged With Sexual Assault of a Child

Warning: This story contains disturbing subject matter. Discretion is advised.

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A Pearland, Texas, man was arrested on Friday and charged with one count of sexual assault of a child after hundreds of photographs were reportedly found showing him performing sex acts with young girls, KPRC-TV reports.

Police are currently looking for the public's help in identifying the victims, who are all believed to be between the ages of four and seven.

Harris County Assistant District Attorney Kathryn Kahle told media that some of the young girls shown with Tad Jeremy Costin, 42, appeared to be drugged. At least 15 of the victims are currently unidentified and more charges could follow.

"They are dressed in what appear to be nightgowns, little girl nightgowns. Some of them look as if they are unresponsive and/or drugged when they are engaged in those sexual acts," Kahle told KHOU-TV.

KHOU-TV has more:

The gruesome discovery was found on SD cards at the home of the parents of Costin's girlfriend, but investigators are also digging through eight computer hard drives and 80 CDs to see if there is any other evidence.

Police believe that some of the pictures date back as far as 1990.

KHOU reports that the investigation started on Oct. 20 after police received a report that someone was participating in the production of child pornography. The parents of Costin's girlfriend reportedly found SD cards in boxes that belonged to Costin. They then turned the digital cards over the the authorities.

Costin lives at a separate location with his girlfriend and her 5 year old son. While Mary Butts, a neighbor, said that they seemed like a normal family and that her daughter would often play with the small boy, she became cautious after receiving a warning about Costin from a friend.

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"She had heard rumors that the man, Tad, liked to take pictures of little girls.  She let us know that because we have a little girl," Butts told KPRC. "That was something that was concerning to me. Ever since then we have been cautious about letting our kids out here."

The concerned neighbor said that Costin invited the family to a pool party a few weeks ago, but that they decided not to go. That said, she explained that "there were many little children at that party."

There is no indication that the alleged incidents occurred at Costin's current home and, in fact, authorities believe that the pictures were taken at a previous residence.

Costin is in the Harris County jail being held without bond.

(H/T: KPRC-TV)

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Featured image credit: Liberty County Sheriff's Office

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