Grand Jury indicts two in Burnet on indencency with child, pornography

By Lew K. Cohn
Managing Editor

The Highlander

A Burnet man arrested last year for using surveillance equipment to spy on his neighbor getting undressed has now been indicted on child pornography and indecency charges, while his fiancee was indicted on three counts of indecency with a child, including once by sexual contact.

James Williamson, 45, and Fatima Sparks, 35, were booked into the Burnet County Jail on Friday, Jan. 20. Williamson is being held in lieu of $100,000 bond on charges of indecency with a child by exposure, possession with intent to promote child pornography and possession of child pornography.

Sparks is being held in lieu of $75,000 bond, or $25,000 on each of three counts against her, one for indecency with a child by sexual contact and two for indecency with a child by exposure.

According to the indictments handed down from the 33rd Judicial District Grand Jury, Williamson and Sparks exposed their genitalia to an unnamed minor female victim — once by Williamson and twice by Sparks — and Williamson then created video of the minor while the victim's breast was exposed with intent to distribute the material.

Sparks was also accused of engaging in sexual contact with the minor victim by making the victim touch her breast. The activity was done to arouse or sexually gratify Williamson and Sparks, according to the indicment.

Sparks exposed herself to the victim on July 3 and July 4 and then made the victim touch her on July 13. Williamson exposed himself to the victim on July 4 and created the video on July 5.

This activity apparently happened just before Williamson was arrested in July 2016 for invasive visual recording in a bathroom or dressing room, which is a state jail felony. Deputies had received a call from a residnce in the 100 block of County Road 118 after a woman living there found a camera in her bathroom, going through the duplex wall in a hole that had been drilled. Wires from the camera led into Williamson's home in the adjoining residence. The camera used was one that can be purchased at a surveillance store.

Williamson and Sparks will each be arraigned at 9 a.m. Feb. 28 and will have a case status hearing on March 31 at 9 a.m. in Judge Allan Garrett's courtroom.