Buna Man Arrested on Child Pornography Charges Following Multi-Agency Investigation

Booking photo of Joe Sanders, 31, of Buna. Photo Courtesy of Jasper County Sheriff’s Office.

BUNA, Texas – A Buna man was taken into custody Thursday morning following a multi-agency investigation into allegations of child pornography.

According to the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO), Investigator Karli Cherry arrested Joe Sanders, 31, of Buna, on September 25, 2025, at approximately 7:00 a.m. Sanders was charged with Possession with Intent to Promote Child Pornography, a first-degree felony.

Deputies, along with federal law enforcement partners, also executed a search warrant at Sanders’ residence on County Road 721 in Buna. Agencies assisting in the search included the U.S. Marshall's Task Force and the Department of Homeland Security.

The investigation began after JCSO received a cyber tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), which indicated that child sexual abuse material may have been distributed via a social media application.

Working with federal partners, investigators developed evidence suggesting Sanders allegedly possessed and distributed the material online. Officials say the investigation remains ongoing.

Sheriff Chuck Havard commended his investigators and partner agencies for their work, stressing the importance of protecting children in Jasper County.

“Sheriff Chuck Havard and his staff are committed to combating criminal activity in Jasper County. I want to commend Investigator Cherry for her work on this case,” Havard stated. “We also appreciate our partnerships with our law enforcement partners and are grateful for their investigative assistance. We will work tirelessly to protect our children and apprehend any suspect engaged in this type of despicable conduct.”

As with all cases, Sanders is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.