Mitchell Wasek, the son of Buc-ee’s co-founder Don Wasek, is facing serious legal trouble after being arrested and charged with possessing child pornography.
At just 29 years old, Wasek now faces significant consequences after being officially charged with a third-degree felony in Travis County, Texas, on March 3, 2025.
The charges stem from an incident that occurred on September 26, 2023.
If convicted, Wasek could be sentenced to anywhere between two and ten years in prison, with a possible fine of up to $10,000, according to Texas law.
Previous Legal Issues Add to Growing Troubles
This latest charge is just one part of a much larger legal battle for Wasek. In May 2024, he was indicted on 21 felony counts related to invasive visual recording.
Authorities discovered hidden cameras that had been secretly recording unsuspecting victims in various properties owned by his family.
The recordings took place in private spaces such as bathrooms and bedrooms, including locations in a luxurious estate on Lake Travis, an Austin high-rise apartment, a Dallas penthouse, and a vacation home in Telluride, Colorado.
The situation first came to light when a group of friends visiting the Lake Travis estate noticed an unusual charging port in the bathroom.
Upon further inspection, one of the friends—an employee in cybersecurity for the Department of Defense—discovered the hidden camera and found videos of themselves and others in compromising situations, including using the bathroom, showering, and engaging in intimate acts.
The group turned over the camera to authorities, triggering an investigation that eventually led to the discovery of 68 videos recorded without consent over a span of at least two years.
Disturbing Findings in the Investigation
As investigators combed through the evidence, they uncovered even more disturbing material, including images of children, some appearing to be prepubescent.
The Travis County Sheriff’s Office sent the files to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, where at least one of the children, a seven-year-old girl, was identified.
She had previously been exploited, and her images were being circulated online.
Further investigations pointed to another suspect involved in the production, distribution, and possession of child pornography, suggesting that Wasek’s recordings may have been shared within illegal networks.
A Family Business in Crisis
Buc-ee’s, the popular convenience store chain known for its massive locations, pristine restrooms, and beloved snacks like Beaver Nuggets and brisket sandwiches, has become embroiled in a scandal that contrasts sharply with the family’s otherwise clean-cut image.
The company, which has locations across several states including Texas, Alabama, and Florida, is now faced with the fallout from Wasek’s actions, which have caused a great deal of public shock and disappointment.
Before these new charges, Wasek had already experienced personal consequences from his previous arrests.
In October 2023, after being charged, he was forced to vacate his $4,700-per-month penthouse in Dallas’s upscale Village Drey apartment complex.
The complex’s management took immediate action, and Wasek’s belongings were swiftly moved to a storage unit near one of his father’s properties in Austin.
Neighbors expressed their shock, with one saying, “I guess you never really know who your neighbors are,” while another half-jokingly remarked, “I guess I need to check for cameras.”
A Troubling Future Ahead
Wasek’s legal team is attempting to mount a defense. His attorney, David Gonzalez, has argued that the case centers on the legal right of homeowners to install cameras in their own homes.
He raised the question, “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?” However, legal experts argue that recording people in intimate situations without their consent is a clear violation of Texas law, and the addition of child pornography charges makes the situation even more serious.
In Wasek’s hometown of Lake Jackson, Texas, where Buc-ee’s was founded in 1982, the scandal has shaken the community.
Locals have expressed their disbelief, with one person saying, “We knew him growing up. His parents were very nice businesspeople.”
Others voiced their anger, noting the stark contrast between the family’s successful business empire and the shocking actions of their son.
Wasek faces a total of 28 felony charges, but he remains free on a $280,000 bond.
If convicted on all counts, he could face decades in prison.
His first court appearance for the new charges is scheduled for March 19, 2025.