A 43-year-old Houston man, Carlos Jose Ayala Morales, is facing charges of felony attempted indecency with a child after allegedly groping a 7-year-old girl as she walked home from school on January 27th. Morales, who has a significant criminal history including prior convictions for indecency with a child, is currently at large and wanted by the Houston Police Department.
The young victim recounted the incident to Fox Houston, stating that the man approached her from behind and touched her inappropriately while she was walking home with her older sister and a friend. The girl's mother expressed her fear and anger, hoping for Morales' swift apprehension and prosecution to prevent further harm to other children.
Morales' criminal past reveals a disturbing pattern of similar offenses. In 2017, he faced multiple charges of indecency with a child and evading arrest, with authorities linking him to at least ten sexual assault incidents involving school-aged girls in the northeast Houston and Harris County areas. At the time, police reported that Morales would approach his victims from behind and touch them inappropriately over their clothing. One incident even involved an attempted abduction of a 7-year-old girl walking home with her brother.
Following his 2017 arrest, ICE placed a detainer on Morales, a Honduran citizen. However, the detainer was lifted upon his conviction, and he served concurrent seven-year sentences for various offenses, including indecency with a child, evading arrest, and burglary. He was released into ICE custody in February 2024. Fox News Digital has contacted ICE for comment.
