San Antonio Man Using Alias "Cheer Dad" Arrested in Multi-Agency Undercover Online Solicitation Sting

Bexar County authorities arrested 59 year old Lawrence Edward Paul for soliciting minors online. The suspect allegedly used the alias "cheer dad."

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 17, 2026, 4:28 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from CBS Austin

Undercover Operations Expose Digital Predation

A weeks long investigation led by the Bexar County Human Exploitation Unit, in collaboration with the Secret Service, culminated in the arrest of a local man accused of targeting children online. Lawrence Edward Paul was taken into custody on Monday following a press conference held by the Sheriff’s Office. Authorities revealed that the investigation was triggered when an undercover agent, posing as a fifteen year old girl, began communicating with Paul. According to investigators, the digital dialogue shifted toward sexual topics rapidly, with the suspect allegedly using the online handle "cheer dad" to facilitate the interaction.

Deception and Direct Solicitation

As the probe intensified, a second investigator—a supervisor within the exploitation unit—assumed the persona of a seventeen year old female to engage with the suspect. Paul reportedly propositioned this persona for sexual activity and arranged a physical meeting at a local shopping mall. He believed he was meeting the teenager under the guise of purchasing clothing for her. Instead, law enforcement intercepted the suspect at the designated meeting location, bringing the undercover phase of the operation to a close.

Conflicting Admissions and Ongoing Investigations

During subsequent police questioning, authorities noted that Paul appeared unable to keep track of the numerous young individuals he had contacted digitally. While the suspect admitted to meeting young women for sexual encounters in the past, he maintained that those previous individuals were adults rather than minors. However, investigators are treating these claims with skepticism as they analyze his online history. Paul has been booked into the Bexar County Jail on a third degree felony charge of online solicitation of a minor.