A 43-year-old man, previously sought by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), is now wanted by authorities following allegations of inappropriate conduct involving a young girl in Houston.
Carlos Jose Ayala Morales faces charges of felony attempted indecency with a child, as reported by KHOU. The incident allegedly occurred on January 27, prompting a community outcry for his arrest.
"When the police released his name and identity, it was great to be able to put a name with a face but now we need to be able to put arrested underneath that release," said Holly Roemisch, a concerned parent. Ayala Morales has a troubling history, with prior convictions for assaulting minors.
The alleged victim recounted to KRIV, "A man came behind me, and he touched my private parts." Her mother expressed a desire for justice, stating, "I hope hes caught and put away much longer, so he cant hurt other children."
According to Western Journal, Ayala Morales first faced accusations of child molestation in 2014. By 2017, ICE had issued a detainer following his arrest. It's important to note, as per the American Immigration Council, that detainers can apply to lawful permanent residents if deemed deportable under immigration law. While KRIV identified Ayala Morales as a Honduran national, KHOU clarified that he was originally from Honduras but had acquired American citizenship. His 2018 conviction resulted in a seven-year prison sentence, and he was released to ICE custody in 2024.
Stella Hart, another parent, voiced her frustration to KTRK-TV, saying, "He was caught. He was convicted. He was put in prison for not enough time and then released." The circumstances surrounding Ayala Morales' release to ICE and his absence from the Texas Sex Offender Registry have raised significant concerns. Roemisch remarked, "The fact that hes been previously convicted and sent to prison, but yet was still not on the registry, is just unfathomable to me."
The Texas Department of Criminal Justice explained that Ayala Morales was not initially placed on the registry because he was released to ICE, which subsequently dropped an immigration charge against him five days after his release, as reported by KTRK-TV.
However, the Texas Department of Public Safety later acknowledged a procedural error, stating, "It appears Ayala Morales registration was submitted in February 2024 but was diverted due to human error and never processed. Again, the notification for his duty to register has now been processed, and he can be found on the Texas Public Sex Offender website."
Ayala Morales has since been added to the Texas Sex Offender Registry. This case highlights the critical need for robust systems to ensure public safety and accountability, particularly when dealing with individuals with a history of offenses against children. The community's call for justice underscores the importance of addressing these systemic failures to prevent future incidents.
Login