Child Pornography Arrest Of A Zavalla Babysitter

Three separate incidents in the Zavalla area all ended the same way. Someone who had committed crimes involving children was put in the Angelina County Jail.

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Last week, according to the Lufkin Daily News, was very busy in Zavalla. Ongoing investigations into crimes involving children have resulted in multiple arrests.

Zavalla Police Chief Robert Denby spoke to a woman who said a 14-year-old male living with her family had gotten extremely close to her housekeeper/babysitter, Melinda Elise Hassan, 41, of Nacogdoches.

The woman said that he was spending a lot of time on his phone with the woman, and she also found nude photos of Hassan sent to him on his phone. The teen had also sent Hassan nude/sexual photos of himself from the bathroom at school.

Keep Reading: 3 Felony Arrests Involving Crimes Against Children 

Chief Denby contacted Harold's House to interview the boy and other children in the home. It was then that Zavalla Police arrested Hassan on May 21 on warrants for possession of child pornography and failure to appear in court on a possession charge.

Of the three arrested, she is the only one still in jail, and also the only female. Statistically, men have a better chance of getting bonded out of jail and having the money to make bail.

Sex Offender Found At Children's Field Day

Chief Denby attended Zavalla Elementary Field Day on May 16, 2025. He noticed that Lloyd Ennis McKnight Jr., 44, was in attendance, even though he was violating his sex offender registry stipulations by being at the event.

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Police later arrested him on May 23 on a warrant for failure to comply with sex offender requirements. He was released the same day after posting his $10,000 bond.

Jamie Ryan Bright of Zavalla was arrested after a girl at Harold's House made an outcry to her teacher about him sexually assaulting her. He said he never touched the girl, but a few days later, more alleged victims came forward about their interactions with Bright.

On May 21, Chief Robert Denby spoke with Bright and requested a lie detector, which Bright refused. Bright was arrested on May 22 and was released the next day after posting his $50,000 bond.