A former police officer in North Texas was given three consecutive life sentences in prison after investigators found him in possession of over 300 videos and images of children being sexually abused, according to a statement from Johnson and Somerville Counties' District Attorney.Former Itasca Police Department officer Daniel Joseph Bates was convicted Wednesday of possession of child pornography and online solicitation of a minor after a civilian set him up in an entrapment scheme, according to a statement from District Attorney Timothy Good shared with Fox News Digital.Texas Rangers arrested Bates after an adult decoy posing as a 15-year-old girl alerted police that Bates was communicating with someone he believed to be a minor, according to the statement.The civilian alerted police to Bates' communications with him, prompting Rangers to obtain a search warrant for his digital devices where they allegedly found over 300 images of minor children being sexually abused, according to the statement.NEW MISSISSIPPI LAW EXPANDS DEATH PENALTY TO INCLUDE INMATES ON CHILD SEXUAL BATTERY CONVICTIONSMugshot of Daniel Joseph Bates, who was convicted Wednesday Sept.2, 2026, of possession of child pornography and online solicitation of a minor.
(Office of the District Attorney Timothy M.Good Johnson & Somervell Counties)"The images and videos that had to be processed and presented to the jury are indescribable in the level of depravity they depict and the degree of deviance of the defendant who voluntarily possessed and viewed those types of images," Good said in the statement.""Daniel Bates disgraced his badge and violated his oath and became the monster that he was sworn to protect the community from.
Our community is safer with Bates serving three consecutive life sentences," Good included.Portrait of Johnson & Somervell Counties District Attorney Timothy M.Good, who prosecuted Bates' case.
(Office of the District Attorney Timothy M.Good Johnson & Somervell C...