Olney Man Sentenced to 14 Years in Child Porn Case

An Olney man has been sentenced to 14 years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice after pleading guilty to multiple charges related to child pornography and the online solicitation of a minor.

Terry Joe Ward, 45, was arrested in July 2022 following an investigation by the Olney Police Department. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children tipped OPD that someone in town was sending and receiving sexual graphic photographs of pre-pubescent children, according to a police affidavit.

The tip, known as a CyberTipline report, was submitted by Facebook, the affidavit said. OPD investigators used Mr. Ward’s social media accounts on Facebook and Instagram to identify and locate him.

Police seized and searched internet-capable devices at Mr. Ward’s home on Cactus Street, and discovered the cache of child pornography as well as online conversations in which he asked other users to procure him children for sex, the affidavit said.

Mr. Ward pleaded guilty on May 20 to one count of solicitation of a minor and four counts of possession of child pornography with intent to promote. He was sentenced the same day to 14 years in prison.

Olney Police Chief Dan Birbeck, who oversaw the investigation, said Mr. Ward is the latest defendant caught in the department’s crackdown on crimes against children.

“As Chief of Police, I can confidently say that over the past five years, the Olney Police Department has worked diligently and relentlessly to protect the most vulnerable among us—our children,” he said. “We will continue to bring every available resource to bear in investigating these heinous crimes and ensuring that those responsible are held fully accountable.”

District Attorney Dee Peavy said the sentence reflected the severity of the crimes. “He deserves to go to prison,” she said. “We are not tolerating this behavior—this is the worst of the worst.”

Mr. Ward was taken into custody by Olney police following the investigation and remained in jail until his sentencing. He will serve his sentence in the custody of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.