Texas Man Indicted on Federal Child Exploitation Charges

A former Southeast Texas teacher, Derek Bryan Peveto, has been indicted on federal child exploitation charges in the Eastern District of Texas, according to an announcement by U. S. Attorney Jay R.

Combs. The indictment, returned by a grand jury on October 7, 2026, charges Peveto, 46, with the production of child pornography.

Prosecutors allege that on June 13, 2026, Peveto used a minor victim to engage in sexually explicit conduct, resulting in the production of child pornography. If convicted, Peveto faces a minimum sentence of 15 years in federal prison.

The case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. This initiative aims to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse by coordinating federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet. It also focuses on identifying and rescuing victims.

The investigation is being conducted by the FBI and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Rachel Grove is prosecuting the case.

It is important to note that a federal indictment is not evidence of guilt, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.