Illegal immigrant couple accused of trying to kidnap children

April 25, 2008 - 11:06PM

PEÑITAS | ATTEMPTED KIDNAPPING

An illegal immigrant couple who allegedly attempted to kidnap three children appeared in court Friday.

Honduran national Martha Amalia Gomez, 36, and Mexican national Jose Valera, 41, told police they stopped the children as they got off the school bus Thursday afternoon on Tom Gill Road to simply ask for directions.

Police, however, said the couple motioned for the children to get in their car before the children's mother came out of the house. The couple then fled about 4:15 p.m., said Peñitas police Officer Emily Melendez.

Later that day, someone saw a report about the incident on the TV news, called police and led them to the corner of Farm-to-Market Road 1427 and Maribel Road where the couple was found. Police brought them in for questioning and then officially arrested them that night.

They were charged with criminal intent kidnapping and each received a bond of $40,000, Melendez said.
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Monitor reporter Sean Gaffney compiled this report.

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