Fugitive with Extensive Criminal Past Accused of Assaulting a Young Texas Girl

Authorities have identified Carlos Jose Ayala Morales as a suspect in the case where a young girl was inappropriately touched while walking home from her elementary school. According to reports, the incident occurred on January 27 as the girl was walking behind her older sister and a friend. The victim, who was in shock and did not scream immediately, later recounted to her older sister that a man had approached her from behind and touched her private parts.

The alleged attacker, Morales, has a notorious history that includes multiple charges of indecency with a child and evading arrest. In 2017, he faced several counts of indecency with a child, and law enforcement connected him to a series of sexual assault incidents involving school-aged children in northeast Houston and Harris County. In one disturbing account, he is said to have attempted abduction during an incident involving a 7-year-old girl accompanied by her 9-year-old brother.

Residents in the community have expressed their deep concern over the recurring nature of these incidents, with one mother voicing her fear and drawing a personal connection by remarking that the victim could have been her own child. The case is part of a broader investigation into sexual assaults targeting young females as they commute to and from school.

Notably, Morales, a citizen of Honduras, was previously detained on an ICE hold after a 2017 arrest, though that detainer was later lifted following his conviction. He had been serving concurrent sentences in prison for various charges including indecency and burglary before being transferred into ICE custody in February 2024. Authorities continue to pursue him as he remains on the run, and local law enforcement and ICE are cooperating in efforts to ensure he is apprehended and prevented from harming any additional children.