What is my range of college?
A Baytown college educator was charged with using AI to create non-consensual sexually explicit imagery of a minor and an adult.
- Incident date
- Apr 2026
- Target
- unnamed juvenile female and adult complainant
In April 2026, authorities in Baytown, Texas, arrested Rigoberto Silva Ruiz, a 30-year-old debate coach at Lee College, following allegations that he used artificial intelligence to generate sexually explicit content. Ruiz, who had professional connections to Goose Creek CISD students, now faces charges of unlawful production or distribution of certain sexually explicit media. The investigation was initiated after Ruiz’s girlfriend discovered the content on his personal device and alerted law enforcement.
What happened
Investigators allege that Ruiz utilized AI tools to create computer-generated images and videos depicting a juvenile female engaged in sexual conduct. According to the criminal complaint, the perpetrator sourced material for these AI generations by taking screenshots from the victim’s public Instagram account. The victim was identified as a mutual friend of the suspect's girlfriend.
Beyond the images of the minor, the investigation revealed that Ruiz also produced non-consensual sexually explicit content involving an adult complainant. This victim confirmed she did not consent to the use of her likeness and stated she had no prior knowledge of the juvenile involved in the generated material. Following the discovery, Lee College placed Ruiz on administrative leave and initiated an internal review, while Goose Creek CISD clarified that while Ruiz was not a direct employee, they are working with investigators to support any affected students.
This incident highlights the application of Texas state laws, which were expanded in 2025 to explicitly ban the production or distribution of deepfake pornography that depicts individuals in sexual activity without their consent. Under these regulations, such actions can be charged as misdemeanors or elevated to felonies, particularly when the victim is a minor. Federal protections also apply in cases involving sexually explicit computer-generated content of children. Legal experts and officials continue to emphasize the importance of auditing social media privacy settings and documenting evidence immediately if one becomes a victim of non-consensual AI-generated imagery.