UPDATE:
Federal court documents released Tuesday reveal investigators uncovered 88 explicit files from a laptop seized from Mexia's Beary Patch day care facility. The laptop was used "exclusively" by Elmer Gene Ballou, 46, who was arrested Thursday by Mexia Police and Secret Service agents.
According to the sworn affidavit, Ballou admitted to investigators he downloaded the pornographic files. In a written statement, Ballou admitted he's viewed hundreds of explicit images featuring children over the past 15 years.
Ballou will appear in Waco's Federal Court for a pre-trial hearing Wednesday at 2 p.m.
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By Danielle Skinner
MEXIA- A man whose wife had been running a Central Texas daycare has been arrested after Mexia police and Secret Service agents found bags of child pornography in his possession.
46-year-old Elmer Gene Ballou was arrested for possession of child pornography at the Beary Patch day care facility, which was also his home. The neighbors I spoke to said Ballou and his family kept to themselves, but acted very strangely.
On Thursday Mexia police officers and Secret Service agents searched the daycare on 912 Bowie Street in Mexia. They arrested Ballou, and seized three computers, several discs, and external drives.
Residents in the area all described to the same thing--this man was strange, secretive, and they couldn't believe this crime was going on in their own backyard.
Other's said they saw the bust happen--they witnessed Secret Service men barge into the door, and they came out with several bags of what looked like CDs.
When a News Channel 25 crew drove up to the a sign that read"due to a family emergency, the daycare was closed" was hanging on the door.
The Ballou family eventually pulled up to their daycare and home while we were--they refused to comment.
A local mother says she was shocked to learn such a crime was happening in her neighborhood.
"It's disgusting honestly, I have a four-year-old, I don't think I could handle something like that I don't know how the parents are adjusting to that," said Victoria Harris. "In a little town like this you wouldn't think you'd have to deal with something like that."
The case will be filed with the Federal Prosecutors Office in Waco, TX. After the arrest Ballou was transported to the McLennan County jail by secret service agents.
