BOSTON – A deputy sheriff from Texas has been charged in Massachusetts federal court with cyberstalking a girl he met in 2014 while playing the online computer game Minecraft when the alleged victim was 12 years old.

Pasquale "Gino" Salas, 25, a deputy sheriff with the Matagorda County Sheriff’s Office, was arrested Wednesday morning in Bay City, Texas, on federal cyberstalking charges. The girl, now 17, lives in Worcester, Massachusetts.

The cyberstalking continued through this summer, prosecutors with the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Massachusetts allege. Salas expanded his communication with the girl to Snapchat, Skype, phone calls and text messaging.

He's accused of soliciting the girl to send him hundreds of sexually explicit images and videos of herself through various social media platforms and sending sexually explicitly photos of himself to the girl on Minecraft.

Cyberstalking carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. He's due in federal court in Worcester at an unspecified time.

In a statement, the Matagorda County Sheriff’s Office said Salas was relieved by the department Wednesday and that it was a "total surprise" when the FBI notified the office about his arrest. Salas did not have any recorded issues at the sheriff's office.

Salas could not be reached for comment.

Salas referred to himself as "daddy" to the girl, according to an affidavit filed Wednesday, and outlined a list of rules for her to follow, including not being allowed to talk to boys without his permission.

The girl, who met with law enforcement June 3, provided a typed list of "rules" that Salas made.

The list said: “THINGS TO REMEMBER: (a) You belong to me; (b) You’re my property so I can treat you however I want, whenever I want; (c) I’m Proud of You <3”

Punishment included "gagging, choking" and other sexually explicit actions.

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Prosecutors say that beginning in 2016, Salas began threatening that he would publish the photos to the girl's family and friends as a way to intimidate her to continue sending more sexually explicit material and to not change passwords for her social media accounts, which he could access.

Salas also threatened to physically harm and rape her and her sister if she didn't obey his orders, prosecutors say.

The girl tried to end the relationship in 2016, prosecutors say, but her efforts were met with threats every time.

"(The girl) said that 'Gino' called her almost every night and required her to stay on the

phone with him for hours at a time in the middle of the night," the affidavit reads. (She) told officers that she could barely function during daylight hours and struggled to maintain a normal teenage life."

Salas told the girl that he was a police officer with the Matagorda County Sheriff’s Office and that he had people watching her and her home.

The girl told law enforcement that Salas bought her gifts, including jewelry, Edible Arrangements and iTunes gift cards, and provided her with access to his Amazon

Prime account.

The girl again tried to end contact with Salas this past May, prosecutors say, and she told him that her parents "knew everything." She blocked his cellphone number and blocked him from her social contacts. But he then started to text her from a phone with an unrecognizable number.

Salas also introduced the girl to two others online, who identified themselves as "Johnny" and "Levi," according to the affidavit. The girl told investigators that she sent photos to "Levi." No one else has been charged with crimes.

The girl also told law enforcement that another minor, now 15 years old, took part in online chats with Salas and her. She said she believes the minor is still in contact with Salas.

The U.S. Attorney's Office has urged anyone with information, questions or concerns about this case to call the office at 617-748-3274.

Follow Joey Garrison on Twitter @joeygarrison.