Convicted sex offender wanted for allegedly groping Texas girl

A man with a lengthy criminal history who was previously on a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) hold is currently on the run after being accused of groping a 7-year-old Texas girl as she walked home from school. Carlos Jose Ayala Morales, 43, has been charged with felony attempted indecency with a child, according to the Houston Police Department.

The incident occurred on January 27 when the young girl was walking home from her elementary school in Houston. The girl, accompanied by her older sister and a friend, was approached by Morales who allegedly groped her before fleeing the scene. The girl, in shock, did not scream at the time but later confided in her older sister when they arrived home.

“A man came behind me, and he touched my private parts,” the girl recounted to the station. Her mother expressed her hope that Morales would be caught and punished to prevent him from harming other children.

This is not the first time Morales has been in trouble with the law. In 2017, he faced charges of indecency with a child and evading arrest. Police suspected Morales, also known as Ayala, to be involved in at least 10 sexual assault incidents in the northeast Houston and Harris County areas. These incidents involved school-aged juvenile females, aged between 7 and 15, as they traveled to and from school.

Morales has a history of inappropriately touching young girls through their clothing and even attempting to abduct one victim as she walked home with her brother. When he was arrested in 2017, ICE had issued a detainer request for Morales, who is a Honduran citizen. However, this request was lifted upon his conviction.

Following his arrest in 2017, Morales was sentenced to serve concurrent seven-year prison terms for various charges including indecency with a child, evading arrest, and burglary. In February 2024, he was released into ICE custody. Fox News Digital has reached out to ICE for further information on the case.

It is crucial for authorities to apprehend Morales swiftly to prevent any further harm to the community, especially to vulnerable children. The safety and well-being of all individuals, particularly minors, must be a top priority in order to maintain a secure and peaceful environment for everyone.