East Texas man among those arrested in FBI’s Operation Soteria

VAN ZANDT COUNTY — According to our news partner KETK, an East Texas man is among the 244 people arrested in connection to the FBI’s Operation Soteria as they combat the exploitation of children in the digital space.

The Grand Saline Police Departmet received a cyber tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) about suspected child sexual abuse material uploaded on the internet.

During an investigation, officers discovered a suspect’s residence and conducted a search warrant in April that resulted in several electronic devices being seized. Walter Lynn Baird was arrested on April 14 and charged with possession of child pornography, then charged with indecency with a child sexual contact on May 15, according to the police department.

Those inside the residence were questioned and Baird was taken into custody. According to officials, additional charges are possible and the investigation is still active.

“This case was part of Operation Soteria Shield, led by the North Texas Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force,” the police department said. “The task force received significant support from NCMEC throughout the operation. Thanks to the collaborative efforts of local, state, and federal agencies, Operation Soteria Shield resulted in the arrest of 244 child predators and the rescue of 109 children.”