Former Firefighter Pleads Guilty to Possession of Lewd Images

ODESSA, TX – After former Odessa firefighter Jeremy Barrera was arrested on charges of child pornography, the U.S. Attorney's Office has confirmed he pled guilty to one count of possession of child pornography.

According to court documents, Barrera accessed the lewd images on his cellphone using the department’s network. Homeland Security Investigations agents discovered Barrera would use the department's network to access chat rooms that posted videos depicting child pornography.

During the course of the investigation, investigators discovered that two local IP addresses were registered to a “Ray Jones” were used to access the chat room.

One IP address was associated with one of the Odessa Fire Department's station and the other to the 36-year-old's home.

After seizing Barrera's phone, agents found several videos and images ‘depicting minors engaged in sexually explicit activity.

Barrera could face up to 20 years in federal prison.

“Individuals, such as Barrera, who send or receive child pornography revictimize children each time these illegal images are distributed online,” said Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agent in Charge Erik P. Breizke, El Paso Division. “Child exploitation is one of the most serious crimes HSI investigates, because of the lasting physical and psychological damage inflicted on innocent and vulnerable victims, and we will continue to pursue these perpetrators and ensure serious consequences for their heinous crimes.”