Southwest Texas man gets 10 years after having sex with teen

A Del Rio, Texas, man will spend 10 years in federal prison after seducing and having sex with a 15-year-old.

Alejandro Zavala, 31, pleaded guilty to coercion and enticement of a minor, the U.S. Department of Justice said in a news release Wednesday.

According to court documents, Zavala contacted the child on Snapchat. The two had frequent conversations that were often sexual in nature, officials said, and on two occasions Zavala engaged in sexual acts with the victim.

The child was reported missing in one case, leading Val Verde County Sheriff’s Office investigators to find and interview the teen.

Zavala was arrested by federal authorities on October 29, 2021 and pleaded guilty on September 26, 2022.

U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Texas Jaime Esparza announced the verdict.

Homeland Security Investigations and the Val Verde County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case, which was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rex Beasley.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a national initiative that combats child sexual exploitation and abuse by identifying and prosecuting criminals who exploit children online. The initiative also aims to identify and rescue victims.