A former North Texas police officer has been sentenced to three consecutive life terms after investigators said they uncovered more than 300 videos and images depicting the sexual abuse of children, according to the Johnson and Somervell Counties District Attorney’s Office.
Daniel Joseph Bates, a former officer with the Itasca Police Department, was convicted Wednesday of possession of child pornography and online solicitation of a minor following an entrapment operation initiated by a civilian, District Attorney Timothy Good said in a statement shared with News Outlet.
Texas Rangers took Bates into custody after an adult decoy, posing online as a 15-year-old girl, contacted authorities and reported that Bates had been communicating with someone he believed was a minor, according to prosecutors.
The civilian’s report led investigators to seek a search warrant for Bates’ electronic devices. During that search, Rangers allegedly discovered more than 300 images and videos showing minor children being sexually abused, the district attorney’s office said.
Mugshot of Daniel Joseph Bates, who was convicted Wednesday Sept. 2, 2026, of possession of child pornography and online solicitation of a minor. (Office of the District Attorney Timothy M. Good Johnson & Somervell Counties)
“The images and videos that had to be processed and presented to the jury are indescribable in the level of depravity they depict and the degree of deviance of the defendant who voluntarily possessed and viewed those types of images,” Good said in the statement.
“Daniel Bates disgraced his badge and violated his oath and became the monster that he was sworn to protect the community from. Our community is safer with Bates serving three consecutive life sentences,” Good added.
Portrait of Johnson & Somervell Counties District Attorney Timothy M. Good, who prosecuted Bates’ case. (Office of the District Attorney Timothy M. Good Johnson & Somervell Counties)
Bates testified that the child pornography in his possession was part of a secret investigation he was conducting into human traffickers, but prosecutors disputed that.
Bates was only a reserve police officer and at the time of his arrest was working highway construction security, according to authorities.
“Bates was unable to substantiate his claims that he was conducting an official police investigation,” the statement read.
Bates reportedly told the person he was communicating with that, because he was a police officer, he carries a firearm at all times. This prompted Arlind Queriman, a civilian who creates video content in which he exposes people who try to solicit minors for sex, to contact authorities, according to FOX 4 Dallas.
“Some people say we’re vigilantes. Vigilantes beat up these people. I hand everything over to law enforcement,” Queriman told FOX 4.
Most recent mugshot for former police officer Daniel Bates. (Johnson County Sheriff’s Office)
Bates also attempted to use his status as a reserve police officer to get out of the charges.
“He actually tried to play the badge thing,” Good told FOX 4.
“The badge was supposed to be a shield for children — not a shield for a predator. He made his choices. The jury made its verdict. And the judge made sure his next choice will be made from a prison cell for the rest of his life,” Assistant District Attorney Christy May said via the statement shared with News Outlet.
The three life sentences for child pornography possession are accompanied by a 40-year sentence for solicitation of a minor, according to the statement.
News Outlet contacted Itasca Police Department for further comment.
