San Juan man accused of asking 14-year-old girl for nude photos on Instagram 'vanish mode'

McALLEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — A San Juan man was arrested after allegedly asking a 14-year-old girl for nude photos using Instagram's "Vanish Mode" feature.

Maxsimus Angel Cantu was arrested by McAllen police on a charge of online solicitation of a minor, jail records show.

Maxsimus Cantu (Hidalgo County Jail)

A probable cause affidavit stated that on July 16, the mother of a 14-year-old girl filed a police report, stating that she found out her daughter was communicating with Cantu.

She provided police with screenshots, which showed Cantu asking the girl if she was willing to perform oral sex, the document stated. The affidavit stated Cantu made several other sexual remarks, including asking if she was willing to have sex on her 15th birthday.

On July 24, investigators spoke with the girl at the police station who said they would communicate in a "normal way" via text.

"But Mr. Cantu would then ask her to move the conversation to Instagram vanish mode to talk in a sexual manner and to ask her for nude photos," the document stated.

The child told police that Cantu sent her sexually explicit videos of himself.

The next day, investigators spoke with Cantu at the police station, where at first, he said he did not know the girl and that his Instagram was hacked. Cantu then confirmed they had communicated via text, but never on Instagram.

Cantu said he was able to access his Instagram for a brief moment, but then was logged out. Cantu denied communicating with the girl in a sexual manner.

He was taken into custody and booked into the Hidalgo County Jail on July 26. His bond was set at $3,500 and he was released the following day.