Bellville business owner Joseph “Joe” Jamil Daaboul was arrested on February 5, 2025, following an investigation by the Office of the Attorney General and the Bellville Police Department. The Bellville business owner arrest stemmed from a search of his business, Bellville Treats, which led to multiple felony charges, including possession of controlled substances and possession of child pornography. Due to the nature of the material, one charge was enhanced to a second-degree felony, significantly increasing potential penalties.
Daaboul faces a charge of Possession of a Controlled Substance in Penalty Group 1, which is classified as a third-degree felony in Texas. This category includes drugs such as cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine, carrying a possible sentence of 2 to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000. He was also charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance in Penalty Group 2A, which is a second-degree felony and can involve synthetic cannabinoids. A second-degree felony in Texas carries a potential sentence of 2 to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.
The most serious charge against Daaboul is Possession of Child Pornography, involving fewer than 100 visual depictions of a child under the age of 10. Typically, possession of child pornography is a third-degree felony, but Texas law enhances the charge to a second-degree felony when the victim is younger than 10 years old. Charge enhancements increase the severity of penalties when specific aggravating factors are present, such as the victim’s age, the number of images, or prior offenses. In this case, the enhancement raises the possible prison sentence from 2–10 years to 2–20 years, with a mandatory lifetime registration as a sex offender if convicted.
Daaboul was booked into the Austin County Jail with bond set at $500,000. Authorities have stated that the investigation remains ongoing.
