Prosecutor details ‘unlivable’ scene for abducted teen
A Harris County prosecutor Friday described “unlivable” conditions in a Cypress storage unit where a man allegedly held a teen against her will for five days and repeatedly sexually assaulted her.
Joel Micah Arnold, arrested Wednesday, appeared before state District Judge Lori Chambers Gray as the prosecutor revealed more details about the case, in which authorities claim Arnold displayed a gun, raped the 17year-old and injected her with drugs while keeping her in a location where she could urinate only in buckets.
Authorities said Arnold, 34, kidnapped the teen March 27, when he told her he would harm her younger sister if she didn’t come with him, prosecutor Amanda Nicodem said.
He took her to a storage facility in the 19100 block of FM 529 in Cypress, according to the Harris County Precinct 1 Constable’s Office.
He injected drugs in her arm and raped her, Nicodem said, and she eventually tried using her phone to contact a friend. After
Arnold caught her, he forced her to perform oral sex, the prosecutor said.
Arnold on April 1 told the teen to leave the storage unit, and he gave her directions to a convenience store, according to court records. She made it to a Circle K and flagged down authorities.
Law enforcement officials executed a search warrant at the storage unit, which had no windows or running water. They found urine, the girl’s clothing, syringes and two used condoms, Nicodem said.
The girl picked Arnold out in a photo lineup, and he was arrested.
Arnold has no prior convictions. He was charged with aggravated kidnapping, trafficking a child and sexual assault. On Friday, Arnold’s appointed attorney, Dennis Smith, attempted to get bail set at $30,000 on each charge. The judge denied the request and held bail at $100,000 for each charge.
If Arnold posts bail, he would be kept under house arrest and prohibited from having contact with the teen.
He is expected back in court June 19.
Authorities said they believe there could be other victims and have asked anyone with information to contact Precinct 1’s human trafficking hotline at 832-927-1650.