A La Porte man has been arrested and charged with multiple child sex crimes following an investigation by the La Porte Police Department.
Enrique “Ricky” Vela was initially arrested on February 26 for an unrelated aggravated robbery charge, and later faced a possession charge in March.
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He was charged with multiple child sex crimes on May 7 after investigators discovered incriminating evidence on his cell phones.
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While being questioned about a robbery investigation, 40-year-old Vela permitted investigators to conduct a forensic search of one of his cell phones.
This search uncovered video files with child pornography, leading investigators to obtain a search warrant for a more detailed examination of both of Vela’s phones.
The forensic analysis uncovered several video files showing Vela sexually assaulting multiple local underaged male children. Investigators identified four victims, aged between 13 and 16 years.
Following the investigation, the Harris County District Attorney‘s Human Trafficking and Crimes against Children’s Bureau was contacted, and charges were filed against Vela.
Vela faces eight first degree felony charges, including one count of continuous aggravated sexual assault of a child, one count of aggravated sexual assault of a child, three counts of sexual performance by a child, and three counts of possession/promotion or production of child pornography. If convicted, these charges carry a potential sentence exceeding 85 years. Additional charges are pending against Vela.
He was also arrested in February on an unrelated charge of aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon and faced a possession charge in March.
KPRC 2’s Corley Peel will have more information tonight at 10 p.m.