Troubled son of Buc-ee’s co-founder busted for child porn after arrest for secretly recording guests having sex at father’s lake house

The son of Buc-ee’s co-founder Don Wasek is facing serious legal trouble after he was arrested and charged with possessing child pornography. 

Mitchell Wasek, 29, was officially charged with third-degree felony possession of child pornography in Travis County, Texas on Friday. 

The charges stem from an incident dating back to September 26, 2023. 

If convicted, he could face between two to ten years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000 under Texas law.

The latest indictment only adds to Wasek’s growing legal troubles. 

In May 2024, he was indicted on 21 felony counts of invasive visual recording after authorities uncovered hidden cameras secretly recording 13 unsuspecting victims at multiple properties owned by his family.

It included footage allegedly shot in the bathrooms and bedrooms of a luxurious Lake Travis estate, a high-rise Austin apartment, a penthouse in Dallas, and a vacation home in Telluride, Colorado.

The disturbing case first came to light when a group of friends who were visiting the Lake Travis home noticed an unusual charging port in the bathroom. 

One of them, an employee in cybersecurity for the Department of Defense, inspected the device and found a hidden camera embedded inside.

The group removed the camera and upon inspecting the memory card found dozens of videos of themselves and others in compromising situations – using the toilet, showering, changing clothes, and engaging in sexual activity. 

Realizing the gravity of the situation, they turned the camera over to authorities.

Investigators then discovered a total of 68 video files, many of which had been recorded without consent over a period of at least two years.

Amazon records also showed Wasek had ordered ‘spy cameras’. 

‘The Travis County District Attorney’s Office takes the work of presenting all facts and evidence to a grand jury very seriously. In this case, a group of independent Travis County community members heard the evidence and law and decided that Mr. Wasek’s conduct was unlawful,’ said Travis County District Attorney José Garza.

It was as investigators combed through the digital evidence they uncovered even more disturbing material – images of children who appeared to be prepubescent. 

Detectives at the Travis County Sheriff’s Office sent the files to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, where a comparison with existing databases revealed that at least one victim, a seven-year-old girl had been previously exploited and her images had been circulated online.

Further forensic investigations led to the conviction of another suspect for production, distribution, and possession of child pornography, suggesting that Wasek’s recordings may have been shared or obtained through illegal networks.

Buc-ee’s, renowned for its massive convenience stores, spotless restrooms, and signature snacks like Beaver Nuggets and brisket sandwiches, has cultivated a loyal customer base. 

The chain has locations in Alabama, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Missouri, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas where it began. 

But the family’s clean cut brand is now being dragged into a scandal of criminal voyeurism and the exploitation of minors.

Before these latest charges, Wasek had already dealt with the personal fallout from his previous arrests. 

After being charged in October 2023, Wasek was forced to vacate his luxury $4,700-a-month penthouse in Dallas’s prestigious Village Drey apartment complex.

A spokesperson for the complex, David Margulies, confirmed to DailyMail.com that management had taken swift action: ‘Clearly, he was not going to be permitted to stay there.’ 

A team of six professional movers was seen emptying the residence, and Wasek’s belongings were later moved to a storage unit near one of his father’s Austin properties.

Neighbors were left shaken by the scandal. ‘I guess you never really know who your neighbors are,’ one resident remarked after seeing police execute a search warrant at Wasek’s apartment. ‘I’m relieved he’s gone.’ 

Another half-jokingly admitted: ‘I guess I need to check for cameras.’ 

Wasek’s legal team is now attempting to mount a defense. 

His attorney, David Gonzalez, has previously stated: ‘This case involves the legal right to install cameras in one’s own home. 

‘May a homeowner install a camera in his home without telling housekeepers or guests, or does the guest have a greater legal right than the homeowner?’ Gonzalez posed in a rhetorical question to USA Today.

Legal experts argue recording individuals in intimate settings without their knowledge is a clear violation of Texas law, and the addition of child pornography charges makes his case even more dire.

In Lake Jackson, Texas, where Wasek’s family first founded Buc-ee’s in 1982, the scandal is the talk of the town.

‘We knew him growing up,’ one local commented. ‘His parents were very nice businesspeople. I have his mom’s lamps in my house after she passed away.’ 

Others expressed shock, disappointment, and anger, with some remarking on the contrast between the family’s successful business empire and the shocking actions of their son.

Wasek faces 28 felony charges but remains free on a $280,000 bond. If convicted on all counts, he could be looking at decades behind bars.

According to court records, Wasek’s first court appearance for the new charges is slated for March 19.