Nueces County opens child advocacy center as online child solicitation cases remain a concern

Records obtained by 3NEWS show five arrests for online solicitation of a child in Nueces County so far this year, surpassing last year’s total.

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Nueces County leaders say they are one step closer to fully operating the county’s new Child Advocacy Center, a facility designed to support children and families during abuse investigations.

The center opens as online solicitation of children remains an ongoing concern for law enforcement and child advocates.

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“We get a lot of online cases, adults grooming children online or using social media texting. So I think as technology increases so does the issues,” said Melissa Sweeting, the new executive director of the Child Advocacy Center.

She says the number of investigations highlights the need for the facility.

“Nueces County tends to have about 500 criminal or CPS investigations each year. It’s a lot of kids a lot of families to take care of,” she said.

3NEWS requested arrest data from the Nueces County Sheriff’s Office. Records show four arrests for online solicitation of a child in 2025. Although it is only July, there have already been five arrests this year.

Sweeting says when those cases occur, the center can play an important role in helping children through the investigative process.

“The interview room we have cameras and microphones in the walls and so they are sitting on the other side of the hallway watching and listening to the interview,” she said.

Attorney Louie Cook says the work done by child advocacy centers not only provides important evidence for court proceedings but also helps protect children from additional trauma.

“Not only are they skilled in helping the child work through it. But it’s preventing the child from having to do this multiple times,” Cook said.

Cook says the legal process can often be lengthy and difficult for children.

“The typical defense in the civil or criminal world is to attack the victim. And so having a community that can stand with them for the very first time they have to tell the truth of what happened is really critical to success,” he said.

Sweeting says the center is already open and serving families, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony planned for September.

She says the center typically serves about 10 children each week, underscoring the local need for an independent child advocacy facility.