Man Wanted for Allegedly Assaulting Young Texas Girl Detained by ICE Previously

A man with a troubling history is currently evading law enforcement following allegations of groping a 7-year-old girl in Texas. Carlos Jose Ayala Morales, aged 43, faces serious charges after the incident that unfolded as the young girl walked home from school.

The Houston Police Department reports that Morales has been charged with felony attempted indecency with a child. According to authorities, the alleged incident took place on January 27. While the girl was walking home from her elementary school, she reportedly became a target for Morales.

The girl and her mother recounted the shocking event to local media. They explained that the child was walking behind her older sister and a friend when Morales ran up behind her, groped her, and then fled the scene. The girl reportedly did not scream due to the shock of the situation and only confided in her older sister after arriving home.

“A man came behind me, and he touched my private parts,” the girl revealed during an interview.

The girl’s mother expressed profound concern, stating, “I hope he’s caught and put away much longer, so he can’t hurt other children.”

The Criminal Background of Carlos Jose Ayala Morales

Authorities are alarmed by Morales’s extensive criminal history. In 2017, he faced multiple counts related to indecency with a child and evading arrest. At that time, law enforcement connected him to at least ten sexual assault incidents occurring in the northeast Houston and Harris County areas.

The investigations focused on a disturbing pattern of sexual assaults targeting school-aged girls aged 7 to 15 as they traveled to and from school. Police reported that Morales would approach these victims and inappropriately touch them through their clothing.

In one alarming incident, Morales allegedly attempted to abduct a 7-year-old girl as she accompanied her 9-year-old brother home from school. The victim’s mother shared her fear, saying, “Reading that made me so scared, because that could have been my child.”

ICE Involvement and Legal Proceedings

When Morales was arrested in 2017, he became the subject of an Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainer request due to his status as a Honduran citizen. However, that detainer was lifted after he was convicted of prior charges.

The Texas Department of Criminal Justice confirmed that Morales served concurrent seven-year sentences related to multiple counts of indecency with a child, as well as charges of evading arrest, detention with a vehicle, and burglary.

In February 2024, he was released back into ICE custody. Since then, authorities have been actively searching for Morales following the more recent allegation, raising concerns about the safety of the community and potential victims.

Community On Alert

The local community is understandably on high alert following these revelations. Parents are reminded to stay vigilant and educate their children about personal safety as discussions around the incident continue to unfold. Local authorities encourage anyone with information regarding Morales’s whereabouts to come forward.