Pearland man accused of trying to sell son
Neighbor, lawyer thwarted the deal, police say
A Pearland man was charged earlier this month with trying to sell his adopted son for $1,000 and a Nissan truck, according to court records.
Pearland police said Ronald Hoyt, 45, was arrested following a sting operation in which investigators observed Hoyt asking for a 2006 Nissan Titan and a $1,000 check in exchange for letting a neighbor adopt his son, 16-year-old Alan Hoyt, court records show.
“I was just shocked,” Alan said in a phone interview. “It makes me feel very upset.”
It was unclear when Hoyt adopted Alan. But Hoyt routinely locked the teenager out of their home, including during the deluges of Tropical Storm Bill, said Michael Gonzales, who was named a conservator of Alan in December by a Harris County judge.
Gonzales lives near the Hoyts and encountered Alan on one of the occasions he was locked out.
“He needed a place to stay,” Gonzales said. “I met him that way and felt sorry for him.”
Gonzales has been helping take care of Alan and is seeking to adopt him.
Uncovering the plan
The teen said there were times he would go hungry when living with Hoyt, who once worked for a glass manufacturer.
He said he gets enough food now at Gonzales’ place, and spends time playing video games like “Call of Duty: Ghosts” and watching television shows like “The Vampire Diaries.”
Alan said he’s enjoying school — his favorite subject is math. He hopes to graduate in the coming months.
Gonzales’ attorney, Michael Gonzalez, helped set up the Jan. 12 sting operation after Hoyt alleg- edly proposed the deal in text messages, according to court records.
The attorney notified Pearland police, and on Friday, Detective Cecil Ar- nold sat inside Gonzalez’s law offices as Hoyt walked in and signed a document stating that he will receive “a 2006 Nissan Titan truck valued at 4500 dollars and a 1000 dollar check as compensation for agreeing to the adoption of Alan,” police alleged in a document establishing probable cause for Hoyt’s arrest.
The interaction between Hoyt and the attorney occurred smoothly, Arnold said. Then Hoyt drove away.
“I was just sitting at (the) desk,” Arnold said.
Out on bail
Hoyt was arrested Friday and was briefly jailed before posting $25,000 bail Saturday, Arnold said. He is charged with felony “sale or purchase of a child,” records show.
Felony purchase or sale of a child carries a maximum sentence of two to 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
Brazoria County District attorney Jeri Yenne declined to comment on the case, calling it pending litigation.
Arnold said that as of Wednesday, Hoyt did not have an attorney. It is not clear whether Hoyt has since hired one.
A call to a phone number listed for Hoyt was not immediately returned.