Man charged with multiple counts of possession of child pornography following unrest in Colony Ridge Township

An investigation into a disturbance at a home in the Colony Ridge communities south of Plum Grove has led to charges against one person.

Walter Cerrato-Ruiz, 20, of Houston, was arrested Thursday, Oct. 10, on four counts of possession of child pornography after investigators found hundreds of illegal images on his confiscated phone.

The investigation began on August 18, 2024, when Liberty County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to a home on CR 3545 for a loud disturbance.

As they arrived, shots were reportedly fired nearby, leading officers to believe they were being targeted. Numerous people were interviewed on site and several witness statements were collected.

According to Capt. David Meyers, a spokesman for the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office, several cell phones – six to eight in total – were seized, and every person present in the home gave written consent for the phones to be searched. A bilingual investigator was also present to assist with interviews for those who did not speak English.

Initially, deputies assumed that a check of cell phones would determine whether the shots were aimed at them. However, during the search, investigators reportedly discovered the disturbing child pornography images on Cerrato-Ruiz’s phone.

Cerrato-Ruiz was arrested when he came to the sheriff’s office to pick up his phone, which had been confiscated as part of the investigation. Cerrato-Ruiz is booked into the Liberty County Jail. Information about the bond is not yet available.