Published: September 17, 2009 10:24 pm      

Former New Summerfield Chief arrested on child pornography charges

Staff reports

news@jacksonvilleprogress.com



Michael Meissner, a licensed Texas Peace Officer and former police chief of New Summerfield, was arrested September 14 by police in Arlington on child pornography charges. The arrest occurred at approximately 10 p.m.; he was held for extradition to Dallas County for the Combine Police. His bond was set at $1.5 million.

Investigators stated in a press release the 39-year-old former police chief posed as a woman to solicit nude photos from a 17-year-old. According to court documents, Meissner used a false MySpace page to ask for nude pictures of teen males. Some who sent pictures are barely legal and were stated to have multiple criminal incidents on their records.

These investigators said they believe Meissner used his position as police chief during his stay in Little River-Academy to find potential victims and has obtained nude photographs from people around Texas. He also held police chief jobs in Ellis and Henderson counties.

Meissner is charged with the following felony offenses:

• Engaging in organized criminal activity, a second degree felony and furtherance of obstruction and retaliation, a third degree felony.

• Misuse of official information, a third degree felony.

• Sexual performance by child, a second degree felony.

• Engaging in organized crime, a second degree felony.

• Attempted possession or promotion of child pornography, a third degree felony.

• Aggravated promotion of prostitution, a third degree felony.

Warrants for these charges were signed by Judge John Creuzot, Criminal District Court 4, in Dallas County.

One investigator stated in 2006, while Meissner was police chief in Caney City, a 15-year-old boy spent the night with him without his parents’ knowledge or consent and looked at pornography stored in the police computer. They also say they have almost 5,000 text messages and e-mails outlining the scope of Meissner’s activities, according to an arrest warrant affidavit.

If convicted on all charges, Meissner faces 110 years incarceration and/or a $70,000 fine.

He served as chief of the New Summerfield Police Department for a matter of days.