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WEBVTT HOWERTON IS IN CHAVES COUNTYWITH THE STORY.MATT: MOST OF THESE MEN ARRESTEDLIVED IN HAGERMAN WHICH IS RIGHTOUTSIDE OF ROSWELL.THE MOST SHOCKING PART?ONE USED TO BE THE POLICE CHIEFHERE.AND TONIGHT INVESTIGATORS TELLUS THESE CHILD EXPLOITATION&ALLEGATIONS SURFACED WHILE HEWAS ACTING CHIEF.HAGERMAN, NM.A SMALL TOWN MOST DON'T KNOWABOUT.BUT TONIGHT, THESE 5 MUGSHOTSHAVE MANY HERE, SPEECHLESS.>> DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.MATT: THE CHAVES COUNTYSHERIFF'S OFFICE SAYS THESE 5MEN ARE ACCUSED OF SEXUALLYEXPLOITING A 15-YEAR-OLD GIRL.THE INVESTIGATION BEGAN WHEN AMOM FOUND INAPPROPRIATE TEXTSAND IMAGES ON HER DAUGHTER'SPHONE.DETECTIVES USED IT TO ARREST ANDCHARGE JOHNNY TERRAZAS, CASSMASON THE THIRD, ALFRED BROWNJR, NICHOLAS LANDERS, ANDCHRISTIAN TORRES FOR ALLEGEDCHILD SEX CRIMES.BUT THIS PART HAS ALL OFHAGERMAN TALKING.CASSIUS MASON IS THE FORMERPOLICE CHIEF.AND INVESTIGATORS ADD THAT THECRIMES WERE REPORTED WHILE HESTILL HAD THE JOB.>> SOMEONE WITH THAT MUCHAUTHORITY OVER THE SAFETY OF THEPEOPLE IN THIS LITTLE TOWN, TODO SUCH A THING IS DISTURBING.MATT: NOT ONLY THAT THESHERIFF'S OFFICE SAYS BROWN WASA CUSTODIAN AT A SCHOOL INHAGERMAN.MARTIN WALLACE HAS LIVED INHAGERMAN SINCE THE 80'S AND SAYSHE'S KNOWN CHIEF MASON FOR A

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What happened?Five men were arrested, including the former police chief of Hagerman, by the Chaves County Sheriff’s Office after allegedly being involved in a child exploitation case. According to officials, the victim is a 15-year-old female and the crimes were reported this spring.How did officials find out?The mother of the victim found out about the incident after she noticed her daughter was using a cellphone that she didn’t provide for her. Once she gained access to the phone, she discovered inappropriate texts and picture messages. She called the sheriff’s office and they began investigating.When were the suspects arrested?Authorities served warrants for the five suspects and had them in custody Thursday afternoon.Who are the suspects?The following men were arrested: Johnny Terrezas, 60; Cassius Mason III, 66; Alfred Brown, 58; Nicholas Landers, 20; and Christian Torres, 21.What charges do they face?Officers found Terrazas at a local liquor store having a beer; they also say he had a loaded handgun. He is charged with one count of sexual exploitation of a child, child solicitation by electronic device, criminal sexual penetration of a minor and criminal sexual contact of a minor.Mason is the retired chief of the Hagerman Police Department, but was still acting chief when the incident happened according to the sheriff's office. Officials said in a release that Mason is responsible for providing the phone to the teen, but no other details were provided. He faces one count of sexual exploitation of a child, one count of child solicitation by electronic device, and one count of criminal sexual contact of a minor.Brown was a custodian with Hagerman Schools, and is charged with one count of sexual exploitation of a child and one count of child solicitation by electronic device.Landers faces one count of criminal sexual penetration of a minor and one count of child solicitation by electronic device.Torres faces two counts of sexual exploitation of a child and one count of child solicitation by electronic device.Were the suspects working together?Officials said the suspects did not appear to be conspiring together.