Local freelance photographer indicted

A Wharton County freelance photographer was recently indicted for something he’s been doing for many years – snapping photos.. It seems what got photographer Elmer Cavender in heaps of trouble this time were his pictures he took for the Wharton Volunteer Fire Department of a crime scene where Needville ISD Police Chief Ernie Mendoza was killed. He later sold those photos to a local newspaper, a common practice in the industry.

The story twists when two DPS troopers seized the negatives and photos from Cavender. DPS officials say Cavender “voluntarily” handed over the photos, Cavender claims that they didn’t give him a choice. The newspaper that bought the photos, the Journal-Spectator, is considering legal action against the DPS for crossing the legal lines in this case.

Cavender has since been released of his photographer duties by the volunteer fire department. He faces a possible ten-year prison term and up to $10,000 in fines.