safety
Former Fort Bliss soldier pleads guilty to child exploitation crimes
By Gabrielle Lopez at KVIA ABC-7
· June 24, 2026
· 2 min read
EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- A former Fort Bliss soldier pleaded guilty Wednesday to child exploitation crimes while living in Alaska and Texas, the Justice Department said. The department said 36-year-old Seth Herrera attempted to make and traffic child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
Court documen...
Key takeaway In May 2024, law enforcement took away Herrera's devices and found tens of thousands of CSAM, the DOJ said.
Why this matters in The El Paso
The guilty plea of former Fort Bliss soldier Seth Herrera brings attention to the dark reality of child exploitation in the El Paso community. Herrera's use of security cameras around his home to produce explicit content of children he knew personally raises concerns about the safety and security of local families. The fact that he was able to use artificial intelligence chatbots to create and distribute child sexual abuse material highlights the evolving nature of these crimes and the need for law enforcement to stay ahead of these technologies. As Herrera faces sentencing, the community should be aware of the resources available to support victims of child exploitation and the importance of reporting suspicious activity to prevent such crimes from occurring in the future. The El Paso community must remain vigilant and work together to protect its most vulnerable members.
About this story
Original reporting by KVIA ABC-7 . The El Paso surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit KVIA ABC-7 . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: safety ·
Published: June 24, 2026 ·
Source: KVIA ABC-7 ·
Reading time: 2 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- A former Fort Bliss soldier pleaded guilty Wednesday to child exploitation crimes while living in Alaska and Texas, the Justice Department said. The department said 36-year-old Seth Herrera attempted to make and traffic child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
Court documen...
When was this published? This article was first published on June 24, 2026 by KVIA ABC-7 and curated for The El Paso readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Gabrielle Lopez at KVIA ABC-7. To learn more about how The El Paso selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more safety coverage from The El Paso, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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