Former deputy pleads guilty in sex case
Galveston County officer sent lewd texts, photos to 14-year-old girl
GALVESTON — A former Galveston County deputy pleaded guilty Tuesday to asking a 14-year old girl for sex online and sending her explicit text messages.
Ruben Ornelas, 35, submitted his guilty plea to Judge Patricia Grady in the 212th District Court, waiving his right to appeal in the process. Ornelas was indicted in November 2016 on charges of soliciting sex from a 14-year old girl and sending her lewd and graphic text messages, including a photograph of his genitals. He had been scheduled to go on trial Tuesday.
Documents show that the girl told investigators that Ornelas twice forced her to perform sexual acts on him. Ornelas’ wife reportedly discovered dozens of texts on his phone to the girl, who she knew was underage.
Ornelas’ attorney, Mo Ibrahim, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Ornelas was fired from the Galveston County Sheriff’s Office in 2015
after a grand jury indicted him on a charge of receiving oral sex from a female inmate while transporting her from the jail to the Galveston County Justice Center, where court hearings are held. That charge was later dropped after the Galveston County District Attorney’s office had trouble locating the inmate.
The Texas Commission on Law Enforcement also suspended Ornelas’ peace officer license.
The state’s witness list against Ornelas included over 20 law enforcement officers from the League City Texas City and Dickinson police departments, as well as his former supervisors in the sheriff ’s office.
Ornelas was ordered into custody and faces a possible punishment of two to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000 for online solicitation of a minor and indecency with a child, both second-degree felonies. His punishment will be determined at a later date.