Police release sketch of suspect in sex assault case after woman was attacked

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Two men wanted for a sexual assault remain on the run. Police are hoping newly released video of the getaway car and a sketch of one of the suspects can help track them down.

Police say these men are dangerous. They are accused of picking up a woman, sexually assaulting her and then threatening to kill her.

Police have released a sketch of one of the two men they say attacked a woman in a car back on September 23. Surveillance video captured the suspects standing outside of that car during that attack.

Police say earlier that night the 27-year-old woman was walking along a street in north Houston. She had been crying after a fight with her boss when investigators say the men pulled up in a dark-colored sedan and asked her if she wanted a ride. Authorities say the woman got into the car and asked to be dropped off at a downtown bus stop.

But investigators say one of the men began assaulting her in the back seat before the driver pulled over behind a warehouse in the 2100 block of Harrington and police say he assaulted the victim as well.

"We haven't found any related cases with these suspects, but it is a possibility that if they did it to this victim, they'll go out and do it again," said HPD Investigator Jennifer Kennedy. "It was an easy target. They took advantage."

The suspects are described as two Hispanic males. One suspect is in his early 40s, about 5 feet 9 inches tall and a medium build. He has dark brown hair, slicked back and tucked behind the ears, brown eyes and black ink tattoos on both arms. He also has one tattoo around one wrist.

The other suspect is in his 30s, about 5 feet 10 inches tall and heavy-set. He has a bald head, dark-rimmed glasses, brown eyes and a tattoo on his upper right arm. He also has a tattoo across his chest, with a curved shaped in Olde English writing.

Surveillance video of both suspects and their vehicle, a dark colored, four-door, possibly 1997 Ford Taurus station wagon, can be viewed here.

Anyone with information in this case is urged to contact the HPD Special Crimes Division at 713-308-1100 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.

(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Crime Tracker »

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Arrest made in alleged 'black magic' sexual assault

  TOMBALL, TX (KTRK) -- The search for a 60-year-old man accused of rape in Tomball has ended in his arrest. And now, the victim's family is speaking about the crime and how the man was finally captured.

Mario Munoz-Verudes is accused of assaulting a 17-year-old after claiming he could help her with black magic. According to the father of that teen girl, the man wanted for rape had been hiding from police not far from where the alleged rape took place back on September 25.

The father, who we're not identifying, says he knew Munoz-Verudes was hiding out in the woods behind the home and waited for him in an abandon house overnight. His son helped explain to us what happened.

"All of the fathers and mothers that have children, if they were to be violated, they would all feel the same," said the son. "Angry, mad and we wouldn't rest until we found the man."

According to police, the sexual assault happened at a home where Munoz-Verudes was renting a room from the owner. According to the girl's father, after finally finding Munoz-Verudes, they got into a physical altercation.

"He took out a knife and tried to stab my dad and that made him angry and what my dad did, he attacked him," said the son.

The girl's father tells us he was able to call police after the fight. Police arrested Munoz-Verudes early Saturday morning.

Police say Munoz-Verudes claimed he knew black magic and told the girl he would get rid of her bad spirits. This was allegedly his way to lure the girl into his home.

"Proclaimed himself to be a religious man, attended church regularly, supposedly, and was able to do some witchcraft or some spells," said Detective Ron McGullion with the Tomball Police Department.

Munoz-Verudes is facing a charge of rape. At this point, it's unclear when his next court appearance will be.

(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local »

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Ex-Houston police officer found guilty of aggravated sex assault of woman in 2011

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A jury Thursday afternoon handed down a guilty verdict in the rape trial of a former Houston police officer.

Jurors deliberated for a total of about eight hours before finding former HPD officer Abraham Joseph guilty on two counts of aggravated sexual assault -- the most serious of three possible charges he faced.

"We the jury find the defendant Abraham Joseph guilty of aggravated sexual assault by a public servant," read the judge.

The jury's verdict is a victory for Joseph's victim, who had difficulty containing her emotions. We spoke with her through a translator outside the courtroom.

"I just told the truth," she said.

On the other side of the courtroom, an equally emotional woman, Abraham Joseph's wife, buried her head sobbed. Her husband, a former Houston police officer, is now a convicted felon. In January 2011, prosecutors say Joseph raped a cantina waitress while he was on duty and in uniform. A second woman testified during the trial he did the same thing to her.

"I think the judge's decision to allow this witness was appropriate. This person's incident with the officer was very similar to the case, remarkably similar," said KTRK Legal Analyst Joel Androphy.

In all, jurors deliberated for seven and a half hours. They had two legal questions about DNA evidence and the definition of aggravated sexual assault. They also asked to see five pieces of evidence. All signs that could have appeared to favor the defense.

In the end, jurors believed the victim's story. She proclaimed her thanks.

"I am very pleased because justice has been made," she said.

Jurors were asked to consider three different types of charges: aggravated sexual assault, sexual assault, or improper sexual activity with someone in custody.

There are five women and seven men on this jury and their work is not done as they've moved into the punishment phase.

Joseph faces five years to life in prison on each count, and he could be eligible for parole.

So far during the punishment phase, jurors heard from three more cantina waitresses who say Joseph sexually assaulted them as well.

Stay with Eyewitness News and abc13.com for the latest in this case.

(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local »

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Lakers forward Jordan Hill pleads no contest in assault of girlfriend in Houston

Los Angeles Lakers forward Jordan Hill speaks to the media on March, 16, 2012, in Los Angeles, one day after the Houston Rockets traded him to LA. (AP Photo/Gus Ruelas)

  HOUSTON -- Los Angeles Lakers forward Jordan Hill has pleaded no contest to assaulting his girlfriend in February and was sentenced to one year of probation.

Hill, 25, will also have to pay a $500 fine and undergo counseling. The assault charge was reduced from a felony to a misdemeanor.

Hill is charged with assaulting Darlene Luna on Feb. 29 at his apartment while the New York Knicks' former first-round draft pick was playing for the Houston Rockets.

Luna, 29, cried on the witness stand as she recalled the incident and claimed Hill still hasn't apologized. The two avoided eye contact while they were in the courtroom together.

The 6-foot-10 Hill played for Houston from February 2010 until March, when he was traded to Los Angeles.

(Copyright ©2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local »

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Liberty Co. jail warden, chief fired over assault allegations

  LIBERTY COUNTY, TX (KTRK) -- Two top administrators at the Liberty County jail have been terminated by the firm hired by the county to manage the jail.

By Friday, the firm -- Community Education Centers -- had replaced former Warden Timothy New and former Chief Kenneth Reid Nunn with a new warden and chief of staff.

The decision to terminate New and Nunn came just days after a notice of claim was sent to Liberty County authorities and CEC by the attorneys of Brandy Nichole O'Brien.

According to court documents, O'Brien was "repeatedly subjected to assault and battery, sexual assault, deviant sexual assault, humiliation, degradation and intentional infliction of emotional distress" while incarcerated in the Liberty County jail for failure to make timely child support payments.

The documents state "Nunn and others" were behind the abuse.

Read more details on this story in The Courier of Montgomery County, one of our Houston Community Newspapers partners.

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Four more sentenced in sexual assault of Cleveland girl

  LIBERTY, TX -- Four men who pleaded guilty in the repeated sexual assault of an 11-year-old Texas girl were each sentenced Friday to 15 years in prison, terms they agreed to in deals with prosecutors.

Their sentencing hearings came after another man charged in the 2010 case chose to go to trial and was convicted and sentenced last month to 99 years in prison. Legal experts said his harsh punishment probably prompted the four sentenced Friday to plead guilty and will likely mean the seven defendants with cases still pending will seek their own plea deals.

Sentenced Friday were: Timothy Ellis, 20; his cousin, Rayford Ellis Jr., 21; Kelvin King, 23; and Jared McPherson, 20. All had pleaded guilty earlier this month to aggravated sexual assault of a child, and each must register as a sex offender once released from prison.

Rayford Ellis also pleaded guilty to manslaughter in a 2008 case, while King pleaded guilty to another aggravated sexual assault charge in a 2009 case involving an attack on a different girl. Each received 15 years for those charges and will serve those sentences at the same time as the ones for assaulting the 11-year-old.

Each defendant was allowed to hug family members before being taken away by authorities. All except for Rayford Ellis had been free on bail. Relatives of the defendants declined to comment after the hearings.

Defense attorneys and prosecutors also declined to comment, citing a gag order in the case.

During his sentencing hearing, King told the judge he was unhappy with his attorney, Jerry Andress, and his plea deal.

"I feel like, well, my lawyer really didn't talk about the case," King said.

Afterward, King's father, Kevin King, and Andress argued outside the courtroom about the sentence. Both men declined to comment to reporters.

Prosecutors say the girl, now 13, was sexually assaulted on at least five occasions by 20 men and boys in the Southeast Texas town of Cleveland, about 45 miles northeast of Houston. The girl was 11 years old during the assaults from mid-September through early December 2010. Police began investigating that December after a classmate of the girl's told a teacher he had seen cellphone video of men having sex with her.

All six juveniles and six of the 14 adults charged, including those sentenced Friday, pleaded guilty. The only defendant to opt for a trial, Eric McGowen, was convicted and sentenced last month to 99 years in prison, but he wasn't in court to face his punishment. McGowen, who had been free on bail, skipped out during a break on the first day of testimony, which included the girl's tearful recounting of the assaults and McGowen's role in them. He was arrested two weeks later in Houston.

The four men sentenced Friday accepted their plea deals after McGowen was tried and convicted.

Legal experts said Friday the seven adult defendants who still have cases pending are probably going to avoid trial after seeing what happened with McGowen.

"Unless one of the remaining co-defendants has something brand new, we are not going to see any more trials from this point forward," said Grant Scheiner, a Houston criminal defense attorney not involved in the case.

Joel Androphy, another Houston attorney not connected to the case, said a 99-year prison sentence for one defendant would definitely scare his co-defendants into pleading guilty. But Androphy said he believes at least one of the remaining defendants will probably decide to take his chances at trial.

"Trials are a roll of the dice. You have to weigh it all and decide how to handle it," the attorney said.

(Copyright ©2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local »

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Katy man charged in sex assault of neighbor's son

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A 64-year-old Katy man is accused of sexually abusing his neighbor's son.

Grady Green is charged with aggravated sexual assault of a child and indecency with a child for the alleged abuse of the five-year-old boy.

According to court documents, Green's neighbor frequently went to his house to administer medications to his wife. On August 7, the mother told investigators she went looking for her son at one point while they were there.

She said she found the boy coming out of a second-floor bedroom with Green. Later that day, the child reportedly told his mother he had a stomachache and told her about the assault.

Three days later, the child was interviewed at the Children's Assessment Center about the alleged abuse. He revealed more details, which launched a police investigation.

Green was arrested Friday and remained in jail Monday without bond.

(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local »

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Some in Cleveland still disagree over girl's sex assault

  CLEVELAND, TX (KTRK) -- The abandoned mobile home where an 11-year-old girl was sexually assaulted had become a symbolic reminder of a horrific crime that brewed racial tensions in this Southeast Texas community.

It's now gone, razed earlier this summer by city officials trying to move forward from a case in which 20 men and boys were charged with repeatedly attacking the girl. But the divide the crime created among residents when it first became public last year still lingers. And with the first suspect convicted in the case at large and several more defendants still facing trial, it could be some time before Cleveland is able to put the crime behind it.

Prosecutors say the girl was sexually assaulted on at least five occasions from mid-September through early December of 2010, at the mobile home and elsewhere. Some in Cleveland, located about 45 miles northwest of Houston, have suggested the girl was partly responsible because of her appearance, sparking widespread condemnation. Some also believe the arrests were racially motivated; all of the suspects are black, while the girl is Hispanic.

Others, however, anxiously await the capture of the first person tried and convicted in the case who ran off in the middle of his trial.

"She was just 11," said Charles Armstrong, as he watched his 3- and 4-year-old grandsons play in his front yard across the street from where the mobile home once stood.

"I'm not going to stand behind them (the defendants). I'm going to stand behind a jury," said Armstrong, sitting in a plastic chair outside his mobile home following an overnight shift at his maintenance job at Wal-Mart.

Despite evidence at Eric McGowen's trial that included a confession, DNA evidence, the girl's tearful testimony and a video of her being assaulted, others haven't been swayed.

Caroline King, who lives down the street, insisted Friday that people still "don't know the facts of the case" and said authorities were just "harassing people" by knocking on doors in the town of about 7,700 people as they searched for McGowen.

"It's not as bad as what they are saying. Nobody tied (the girl) up," said King, 59.

McGowen, who had been out on bail, fled Wednesday after the girl testified that he sexually assaulted her multiple times, including once with a beer bottle. The trial went on without him, and jurors found him guilty of aggravated sexual assault of a child and then sentenced McGowen, 20, to 99 years in prison.

It's unclear if divisions in the town may be complicating efforts to find McGowen. Authorities are saying little about the search. Interim police Chief Darrel Broussard said his agency was working with the Liberty County Sheriff's Office to try to find McGowen, including checking places he previously lived in Cleveland.

The mayor did not return a message Friday seeking comment about the case.

McGowen was the first defendant to stand trial in the case. All six of the juveniles and two of the 14 adults charged pleaded guilty. Trial dates have not been set for the 11 remaining defendants.

Police began investigating after one of the girl's classmates told a teacher he saw video of her being sexually assaulted in the abandoned trailer.

Some suggested early on that the girl was partly responsible because they say she wore makeup, looked older than her age and wasn't properly supervised by her parents.

But Comeka Robinson, who knows McGowen, described the girl as a "baby." She said what happened to the girl was wrong, but she also has doubts about the guilt of McGowen and some of the others charged.

"I would not recommend (he) turn himself in," Robinson, 25, said.

Kim Shelton, a member of the Unity Committee in Cleveland, which was created several years ago to promote the city, said the community is working to deal with the crime and trying to ensure something like that never happens again.

Recently, a local church sponsored a conference to teach girls to respect themselves, for example. Shelton also believes parents are talking more to their children.

Earlier this summer, Shelton's committee began selling bumper stickers that say "I (Heart) Cleveland, TX" as a way to promote the city and tell others it's a good place to live.

"We consider ourselves family and we are moving forward," she said.

(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local »

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Elderly man charged with sexual assault now facing child porn charges

Theogil F. Cuttler, 73, is charged with sexual assault of a child under 17 years of age

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- An elderly man already facing charges of sexually assaulting a teenage boy is now facing additional charges including child pornography.

In May, Theogil F. Cuttler, 73, was accused of sexually assaulting a teenage boy who was doing odd jobs around his house. Court documents state on May 16, a 15-year-old boy who was an acquaintance of Cuttler's went to his Webster residence to do some odd jobs for money, when the boy says Cuttler told him that he could make an extra $5 for engaging in a sex act.

Now Cuttler is facing a charge of sexual performance by a child and a charge of possession and promotion of child pornography. According to court documents, a 15-year-old boy told Webster police that Cuttler photographed and took video recordings of him nude in return for small amounts of money.

A search warrant executed on May 18 at Cuttler's residence discovered a digital camera containing many photos and videos of the boy as well as multiple other young boys, court documents show.

Bond has been set at $50,000 for each of the two new felony charges.

(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local »

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Gospel musician accused of aggravated sexual assault of child

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A gospel musician who has performed at various churches in our area has been arrested for sexually assaulting a young girl. The alleged assault happened at the Zion Watchtower Baptist Church in Richmond.

According to the arrest warrant, a 13-year-old girl states that 42-year-old Rodney Marcus Grimsley, a guitar player who would perform at churches around Fort Bend and Harris counties, assaulted her. It allegedly happened between services last Sunday. He saw the girl, according to investigators, standing outside with other children.

Chief Deputy Craig Brady of the Fort Bend County Sheriff's Office said, "They were outside playing. He struck up a conversation with her and got her to go back inside the facility for a few minutes and that was enough."

The warrant states that the she followed him into a room inside the church where the alleged assault took place. Afterward, Grimsley and the girl are said to have exchanged cell phone numbers. Then came the Facebook chats with Grimsley, which the girl's mother discovered.

"The mother picked up on some of the conduct that she was doing on Facebook and inappropriate comments, and that's when she got involved and notified us," Brady said.

Grimsley was arrested Wednesday night at his home. He has children of his own, according to the sheriff's office. And according to the chief deputy, he didn't deny the allegation.

"Mr. Grimsley has admitted his actions involving the girl," Brady said. "He has confessed to the offense and is currently incarcerated on $175,000 bond."

But Grimsley's fiance, Monica Allen, says she's been with him for nine years and can't believe the allegations.

"Rodney is always talking about God and he's always willing to help somebody," she said. "He's that person that if you are stuck on the street, he's going to pull over and help you."

Allen says she hasn't talked to him since he was arrested, so she is waiting to hear from him.

"I pray for him, wherever he is. If he is seeing this, I pray the angels protect you and I pray that God reveals the truth," she said.

Investigators are asking parents who attend churches where Grimsley may have performed to talk to their children to see if there may be other cases.

Grimsley is being held on $175,000 bond at the Fort Bend County Jail.

(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local »

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Brothers charged in connection with assault, robbery of one of their girlfriends

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Two brothers have been charged in connection with assaulting and stealing money from one of their girlfriends.

On the night of May 6, court documents state Colin Vernon Smith asked his girlfriend where the cash was that she received from an auto accident settlement. She says when she told Colin Smith that he could not have the money, he became very angry, pushed her out of a chair, then grabbed her by the hair and slammed her head on the floor several times. The girlfriend alleges that he then hit her in the face twice.

After telling him that the money was in a dumpster in the hopes of getting him out of the Clear Lake area residence, she says Colin Smith called his brother, Justin Smith, who went to the dumpster to look for the strong box with the cash in it, but it was not there.

Investigators say Colin then told Justin to leave the residence, at which point Colin then hit his girlfriend and began to choke her. She says she finally relented and told him the money was in her child's toy box. She says Colin took the money and put it in a backpack.

According to court documents, the girlfriend says Justin, who police say was present when Colin took the month, told her he was sorry that his brother beat her up, but that he needed the money.

The girlfriend was treated at a hospital for a broken nose and other injuries, court documents show.

Colin Smith, 26, and Justin Smith, 24, are charged with aggravated robbery. No bond has been set in either case.

(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)
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Security system sales call ends with alleged sex assault attempt

  LA PORTE, TX (KTRK) -- A Conroe man is facing charges after allegedly trying to sexually assault a woman in her La Porte home last month.

Johnny Angel Lara, 23, is charged with attempted sexual assault. According to court documents, Lara went to the victim's home in the 5500 block of Sugar Creek on April 19 at around 6:30pm.

He reportedly appeared to represent a home alarm company and tried sell the victim a security system. The victim says Lara came inside the home to see pre-existing alarm equipment. She then reportedly told him she wasn't interested and asked him to leave.

Police say Lara walked towards the front door, but stood in the way of the door so that the victim couldn't open it. That's when court documents say Lara began telling the victim she had a nice body and began to touch her inappropriately and put his hands inside her clothes.

The victim told investigators that Lara tried to push her up the stairs in the home in order to have sex. She eventually was able to get the front door open, and Lara reportedly left.

Police obtained Lara's name and contact information from a flyer left at a neighbor's home. The victim reportedly identified him from a photo lineup.

Initially Lara told police he couldn't remember being in the neighborhood, much less in the victim's home. As they continued to question him, however, he admitted going inside the victim's home, but denied any physical contact. Bail has been set at $30,000.

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HPD officer accused of indecent exposure, assault

According to Galveston police, HPD officer Miles Dumas was in a bar in the 2300 block of Strand early Wednesday when he exposed his genitals to a group of men and women. He was escorted out, where he reportedly stabbed a man.

  GALVESTON, TX (KTRK) -- A Houston police officer was arrested Wednesday for allegedly exposing himself to patrons in a Galveston bar and then stabbing a man after he was escorted out.

According to Galveston police, HPD Officer Miles Dumas, 24, was in a bar in the 2300 block of Strand when he exposed his genitals to a group of men and women. Dumas was then reportedly confronted by the men in the group and escorted outside by bar personnel.

Police say the disturbance escalated outside with Dumas reportedly stabbing one man. A friend of Dumas reportedly struck another man in the face with a pistol. Both suspects fled the scene along with another man, identified as Michael Brady.

Dumas was arrested a short time later and was charged with indecent exposure and aggravated assault. His bonds total $41,000. Brady was charged with failure to report a felony. Charges are pending against the third suspect.

As for the victims, they were both transported to UTMB with what appears to be injuries that are not life-threatening.

An HPD spokesperson tells us Dumas, who works out of Westside patrol, will be relieved of duty with pay pending the outcome of an investigation. He's been on the force since this past September.

(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local »

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Increased reward of $30,000 offered in case of brutal assault of elderly man

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- It's been more than five months since an 84-year-old man was brutally beaten and robbed inside his home in Midtown. He is still in the hospital and the suspect or suspects who did it are still at large.

Crime Stoppers has upped the reward for information leading to an arrest to $30,000. On Tuesday, friends, family and investigators came forward to ask for any new information in the beating and robbery that has that elderly Houston man still fighting for his life.

The beating and robbery happened in the 3400 block of Roseland Street in Houston almost six months ago, on the evening of November 15, 2011.

"I can't tell you the emotional effect it's had not only on his family, but his friends," said friend William B. Boyd.

The victim, Roland Suiter, who goes by "Darby," is still in the hospital, fighting for his life.

"We're really angry about this. Darby Suiter did not deserve it," said Boyd.

Friends, family and police came together at a Crime Stoppers news conference to ask for information. Investigators believe someone who knew Suiter committed the crime.

"Investigators believe that the incident was a result of a person or persons knowing that Mr. Darby kept a large amount of cash in his residence," said HPD Sgt. Darrell Defee.

Suiter, who served in the US Navy as a musician in the Fleet City Orchestra, made his mark on Houston as a lawyer and as a real estate investor so successful that a street in Pasadena is named after him.

"Suiter Way is named after Darby Suiter because he developed the properties there," Boyd said.

But despite Suiter's high profile, his attacker has yet to be found and Suiter's family and friends are struggling.

"His relatives were constantly coming down here from Ohio to be with him, to care for him. His friend who have full time jobs are taking care of him," said Boyd.

Anyone with information about the identity of the suspect is asked to contact Crime Stoppers of Houston at 713-222-TIPS (8477).

Crime Stoppers will pay up to $30,000 for any information called in to the 713-222-TIPS (8477) or submitted online at www.crime-stoppers.org that leads to the filing of felony charges or arrest of the suspect(s) in this case. Tips can also be sent by text message. Text TIP610 plus your tip to CRIMES (274637). All tipsters remain anonymous.

(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Crime Tracker »

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Harris County deputy constable accused of sexual assault of a child

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- It was his duty to uphold the law. But now, a Harris County Precinct 5 deputy constable is behind bars, accused of sexually assaulting a child.

Deputy Jeremy English was arrested Friday outside of a hospital. Authorities say a teen is accusing him of sexually assaulting her when she was 14-years old.

That teenager is a relative of the deputy constable. Now instead of reporting to work like he was suppossed to, English found himself in a court of law where a judge outlined the charges against him.

As a Precinct 5 deputy constable, English is supposed to uphold the law. Now he's accused of breaking it. The 28-year-old peace officer went before a judge to face three counts of sexual assault of a child and one count of online solicitation of a minor.

The alleged victim is now 17, but prosecutors say she was a minor -- just 14 years old when she and English first engaged in sexual activity. Investigators say she told a relative. The allegations were then reported to the authorities. Harris County Sheriff's Office investigators arrested English Friday afternoon while he was working his second job as a security officer at North Cypress Medical Center.

No one answered the door at English's northwest Harris County apartment. English has worked patrol for Precinct 5 for almost four years. The charges against him may put his career in jeopardy.

"Right now, Deputy English is relieved of duty without pay pending the outcome of the investigation. We will help the sheriff's department any way we can with their investigation," said Lt. Warren Steffenauer with the Precinct 5 Harris County Constable's Office.

English's bond has been set at $80,000. We called his wife for a comment and are awaiting a response.

(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)
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Suspect arrested in brutal sex assault near METRO bus stop

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A suspect accused of targeting a woman at a METRO bus stop and raping her has been arrested.

No one answered the door at Roberto Ramirez's east Harris County apartment. That's because police say the 21-year-old accused rapist was hiding out at a home in Abilene with his girlfriend. Police there arrested him Tuesday afternoon on a Crime Stoppers tip.

Houston investigators used DNA to tie Ramirez to the February 22 rape of a 31-year-old woman near a METRO bus stop. Investigators say Ramirez first started harassing the victim near a bus stop on Wayside and Lawndale. They say he then followed the victim off the bus near the 5600 block of Old Spanish Trail and hit her with a beer bottle before raping her in a nearby field on Produce Row.

"For a pretty young guy, he's pretty dangerous and that's what our concern was from the get go, and to work as fast as we can to get him off the streets," said Pedro Moreno with the Houston Police Department.

Since the beginning of the year, four women have been attacked near METRO bus stops at different locations across Houston. In light of Tuesday's arrest, investigators still don't believe they're connected.

As those investigations continue, METRO is stepping up security in hopes of reassuring nervous passengers including more patrols using uniformed and plain clothes officers.

"In addition to that, we included or incorporated the city's help to help us to take down some of the overrun weeds and other debris that has allowed for some of these types of criminal activity to take place along our transit system," said METRO Police Chief Victor Rodriguez.

According to court documents, the victim's rape kit yielded a DNA profile that matched that of Ramirez in a database from an unsolved 2008 rape case. He's expected to be charged in that case as well.

Ramirez, 21, is charged with aggravated sexual assault of an adult.

He was released from prison in November 2011, out on parole for a robbery conviction. He also has prior convictions for drug possession, theft and criminal trespass. Authorities say Ramirez is a member of the gang '59 PIRU.'

Ramirez is currently being held in the Taylor County Jail. He's expected to be returned to Houston later Tuesday. Bond has been set at $50,000.

Stay with Eyewitness News and abc13.com for the latest on this story.

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Sex assault incident in Montgomery Co. has community on edge

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A child molester is on the run, and a community is on alert. Deputies released a sketch of the man they're looking for in connection with an assault on a teenage girl.

Deputies say the afternoon of January 22 the man came at the girl in the backyard of her home in the High Meadow Ranch community just outside of Magnolia. The Montgomery County Sheriff's Office released a sketch of the alleged armed sexual predator, who struck Sunday in the upscale golf course community.

High Meadow Ranch Golf Club manager Caysey Wade says now that word has spread the entire community is concerned.

"It did hit kind of close to home," he said. "You don't really think it is going to happen in your own neighborhood."

Authorities said the suspect had a gun when he walked up to the victim in the backyard, grabbing and struggling with the girl before sexually assaulting the victim and running away into the woods.

Wade says now parents in the area have more questions than answers as they keep their children close and keep a lookout for a suspected predator.

"There is a lot of people on high alert and there is a lot of hunters in this subdivision, so I think if you want to say they are already on standby," he said.

Authorities say the suspect is a white male, with a sunburn-looking face, blue eyes, black eyebrows, wearing black pants, black shoes, and black pullover hoodie with rain jacket material.

Crime Stoppers will pay up to a $1,000 cash reward for information leading to an arrest or indictment of a felony crime. Anyone with information regarding the suspect's identity is asked to contact the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office Detective Division at 936-760-5876 or Crime Stoppers at 800-392-STOP (7867).

(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local »

local, samica knight

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Detectives searching for Montgomery Co. sex assault suspect

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Detectives are searching for an armed man who went into a West Montgomery County family's backyard and sexually assaulted a child.

Such crimes don't typically happen at High Meadow Ranch near Magnolia. On a typical night, it's quiet and dark; in fact, not many cars pass through the area and that's why what happened there on Sunday is getting people's attention.

With sprawling homes and idyllic scenery, High Meadow Ranch is the ultimate in country living. Woods and wildlife make this golf club community picture perfect. Montgomery County Sheriff's Office officials now want residents to focus on one picture.

"It is a very good sketch," resident Stephanie Dolen said.

Authorities say on Sunday, the victim was in the backyard when the man approached with a gun, grabbed and then sexually assaulted the child before running away into the woods.

"The community, you wouldn't think," Dolen said.

Residents say it is far from typical for High Meadow Ranch, a reminder that crime can happen anywhere.

"A lot of people who live there saying they are trying to keep up with their kids," Dolen said.

At a nearby practice for Magnolia Lacrosse, many moms were just learning of the attack, and for Karen Wilkinson, it hits close to home.

"Our property borders those woods and my children use the property for recreational purposes. My kids are there fishing and paint balling and those kinds of things and I want them to be aware that they need to just be cautious," Wilkinson said.

Sheriff's officials wouldn't give us the age or gender of the victim, and they wouldn't elaborate on the extent of the assault.

The suspect was described as a white man who appeared to be sunburned and has blue eyes and black eyebrows. He was wearing black pants, black shoes and a black pullover hoodie.

Anyone with information regarding the suspect's identity is asked to contact the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office Detective Division at 936-760-5876 or Crime Stoppers at 800-392-STOP (7867).

(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)
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local, jessica willey
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Man gets life sentence for child sex assault

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A man is now serving a life prison sentence after breaking into a home in League City, then trying to sexually assault a six-year-old girl.

Robert Cast was convicted Thursday on charges in Galveston County. Back in October 2010, he broke into a house then barricaded himself in the little girl's room. Her three-year-old brother was also in the room.

Cast eventually let the children's father in the room, and he was arrested.

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Two 10-year-olds charged with sex assault of child

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Two 10-year-old boys are in custody, charged with aggravated sexual assault of a child. It's because of what may have happened to an eight-year-old special needs classmate on an HISD school bus.

Despite their young ages, the investigation has led to serious charges against two students at Thompson Elementary School, and frustration over the way it was handled, voiced by some of the parents involved.

Pamela Robinson, the mother of the alleged victim, is asking a lot of questions. She says her son hasn't been the same lately.

"He's been having a hard time, he cries a lot," she said.

The eight-year-old battles ADHD and just a few weeks into the school year she learned of an incident on the school bus.

Robinson said, "When he got off the school bus, his pants would be unbuttoned and his belt would be off and I didn't know what was going on, on the school bus."

Two 10-year-old boys with special needs are now charged with aggravated sexual assault. The mother of one of the boys joins Robinson in questioning the way the investigation was handled.

"My son was still, when he returned to school, was still in the same situation again, on the bus with the same kids in the same classroom, with these same kids," Robinson said. "So how do I know if it happened to him again after the first incident?"

The surveillance video of what happened on the bus was turned over to Houston police after HISD says the discovery was made during an unrelated review of that tape.

HISD says one of those videos, filmed on August 25, 2011, appeared to show three male students engaged in inappropriate activity. On August 30, the Thompson Elementary principal notified the parents of the students who were involved.

Houston police say they've interviewed all the children involved and all of their parents were given an opportunity to participate.

Police added in a statement, "It is not atypical for investigations into cases involving juvenile suspects and victims to take time to properly document and review all evidence before an arrest is made."

HISD says it did not notify other parents of students at the school after the alleged incident took place and the investigation began, and they say they won't be making any changes to policies and procedures following this incident.

(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)
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