Pair charged in disturbing sex crime case involving very young children

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Harris County prosecutors say they've charged a boyfriend and girlfriend in a disturbing child sex abuse case in which the woman is accused of taking a picture of an infant and then giving it to the man.

Harris County Assistant DA Stephen Driver says the allegations "are quite disturbing." Charging documents outline a case involving a boyfriend and girlfriend who both work in the oil and gas industry. Driver says the two "exchanged multiple text messages over a period of time that seemed to focus on sexual interest in children, specifically something more sadistic than your typical sex abuse."

Ashley Dack, 29, is charged with sexual performance by child. Patrick Schuneman, 37, is the co-defendant in the case. Investigators say another boyfriend of Dack's went to authorities after finding disturbing text messages.

Prosecutors say, "It became apparent that the two were conspiring and planning together to sexually abuse children and to photograph or video their exploits."

Police searched Dack's Memorial Drive home along with Schuneman's Heights home. Several devices were seized from both of the homes. Dack's iPhone was analyzed and prosecutors say several text messages were found between Dack and Schuneman.

Charging documents outline a specific conversation on August 30, 2012. The defendant to Schuneman: "There is a little girl at lunch with blonde pig tails, kept dancing around on the floor. Wanted you 2 be hiding in my car and I could bring her 2 you. Maybe 4 (4 years of age)."

Driver explained, "It's a little unusual because we typically don't have a female involved in this kind of sexual abuse or this kind of child exploitation."

Dack is currently being held on a $350,000 bond and her passport was confiscated, while the court declined bond for defendant Schuneman.