TransTex Investigations Articles

The Austin American Statesman is reporting that 50 parents were arrested in Hays and Travis counties for violating child support orders.  Authorities said the sweeps resulted in the collection of over $48,000 in child support payments.

Delinquent parents who are arrested may face jail time for not following child support orders.  Cash bonds posted by the delinquent parent to bond out of jail are not returned to them. Instead, the cash bonds are paid directly to the custodial parent and children they support.

The popularity of today’s social media sites such as facebook, instagram and twitter, to name a few, are being used by teenagers to play games that can be, and most often are, dangerous.  Parents are being warned of a new game that encourages kids to go missing for two full days.  The ultimate challenge is get friends and family to post multiple posts and re-posts about them being missing.  The more posts and re-posts, the more points they rack up to their credit.  The challenge is similar to the 72 hour challenge that was popular in 2015.

Not only is this game dangerous, those that participate and go missing, could be charged civilly and or criminally for consequences that may occur in what they think is a game. The 48 hour challenge is one of the latest social media dares that teenagers are participating in.

Be aware of your children’s social media accounts and monitor them occasionally. What they perceive to be just a game can lead to them being caught up in a dangerous situation or facing legal consequences for their actions.

Adultery is not a crime in the State of Texas.  Although it is not a crime, there are statutes that address infidelity that allow for civil remedies such as punitive damages for adulterous behavior.  In addition, a family law judge may award the wronged party more than 50% of the marital estate or give a more favorable ruling in child custody matters.

As in any litigation, all allegations must be supported with firm decisive facts. The most important thing you can do If you suspect your spouse may be having an extramarital affair is to begin documenting all suspicious activity and hire a private investigator to obtain further evidence and proof to present in a court proceeding.  Don’t try to do it on your own.  You may find yourself with a stalking charge filed against you.

In Texas, a licensed private investigator can legally follow someone and document his or her activity by taking still or video photos that can be used at a later date as evidence.  The investigator will work closely with you and your attorney to get the most beneficial evidence you need to protect your interest in the marital estate.  Providing you with factual information and documentation allows you to make a more informed decision rather than allowing your emotions to make the decision for you.

If you find yourself in this situation, telephone one of our investigators to discuss how we can get you the information and documentation you need to make a more informed decision and protect your interest in the marital estate.

It is believed human trafficking is the third largest criminal industry in today’s world.  Human trafficking is not limited to third world countries.  It occurs here in the United States more than one would believe.  Men, women, children and even newborns are victims.  A victim is someone who is compelled through force or coercion to perform acts of labor including commercial sex.  Traffickers have been known to target people who appear to be the most vulnerable and are easily influenced.  A common place traffickers recruit from are our local schools.  A variety of methods are used.  Some of the more common methods are:

• Abduction
• Threats and force or other forms of coercion
• Fraud and deception
• Payments or benefits made to achieve control or exploitation
  • The promise of a job or living conditions that does not match reality
  • Making alcohol and drugs available

Once under the trafficker’s control, many times the victims are beaten, starved and forced to work as prostitutes or take jobs with little or no pay.  In some instances, the victims are smuggled into foreign countries where they are bought and sold as slaves.

When someone goes missing and is suspected of being a victim of human trafficking, the first and foremost thing to do is report it to local law enforcement.  Private investigators are often used in addition to local law enforcement and in many cases the victim is recovered in a short period of time.

A private investigators primary goal is the recovery of the victim and to remove them from an environment of violence and exploitation.  Investigations may include interviews with persons who may have had recent contact with the victim or know information that may be helpful in recovering them.  In addition, surveillance is commonly used to identify and track persons of interest.

If you suspect human trafficking has occurred in your community or schools, or someone you know may have fallen victim to, it is important that you act swiftly to protect the victims.  Time is of the essence as the longer the crime goes unreported, the higher the risk that the victim will not be recovered.