ODESSA, Texas – A 17-year-old Odessa high school student faces a second-degree felony charge after authorities discovered an explicit video depicting sexual contact with a 14-year-old. Adan Mendoza was arrested earlier this week on a warrant issued by the Ector County ISD Police Department, following a report from a woman who found the video.
Court documents indicate the incident occurred in late December. Someone contacted ECSID police after discovering the video on a phone, reportedly showing Mendoza and the underage child together in a vehicle within the Permian High School parking lot. Investigators allege Mendoza recorded the encounter and subsequently shared it on Snapchat.
According to investigators, Mendoza was aware the child was underage. The girl involved corroborated the encounter during a forensic interview conducted at Harmony Home, as detailed in court records.
Mendoza was booked into the Ector County Law Enforcement Center on January 6 and released the following day after posting a $25,000 bond.
Texas law sets the age of consent at 17. Anyone under 17 cannot legally consent to sexual activity. However, exceptions, often referred to as “Romeo and Juliet” provisions, exist for individuals within a three-year age range—for example, a 14-year-old and a 16-year-old. Stricter prohibitions apply to school employees and students. Texas Penal Code defines a “child” as anyone under 17 in the context of sexual offenses.
Key Age-Related Laws & Definitions
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Age of Consent in Texas: 17 years old
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“Child” or “Minor”: Generally defined as a person under 17 for sexual offense statutes, though under the Family Code, it can mean under 18 if not married or emancipated
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“Romeo and Juliet” Exceptions (Close-in-Age Defense): Allows sexual activity between teens if the actor is not more than three years older than the victim, provided the victim is at least 14 years old. This defense applies to various sex offenses and requires specific conditions, like no duress or force, and is detailed in Texas Penal Code § 21.11 and § 22.011
Consequences
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Violations can lead to felony charges, prison time, fines, and mandatory sex offender registration, which carries significant long-term social and professional impacts
