Illegal Immigrant Faces Attempted Child Sex Assault Charge

Updated: Tuesday, 19 Apr 2011, 1:50 PM CDT
Published : Tuesday, 19 Apr 2011, 10:24 AM CDT

DOUG DELONY


HOUSTON - An illegal immigrant has been charged with attempted aggravated sexual assault of a child, according to Harris County Constable Pct. 4.

The constable office’s High Tech Crimes Unit and Houston Metro ICAC worked with the office of Homeland Security Investigations to arrest Jose Fernando Salas Zerate, 38.

The arrest occurred Monday following an investigation into Zerate’s online activities.

Zerate, an alleged illegal immigrant from Mexico, traveled from south of Houston to an area near Airtex and the North Freeway to meet with a woman he befriended on the Internet. According to Precinct 4, the man and woman had been flirting online for several weeks, and he insisted and meeting her and the children she baby sits.

Investigators say Zerate made it clear he wanted to sexually assault the children.

Officials were able to intercept the suspect at a nearby hotel, and he was arrested on two counts of attempted aggravated sexual assault of a child.

Zerate was taken to the Pct. 4 High Tech Crime Unit where he told investigators he was in the country illegally and was previously removed from the United States in 2002.

He remains in the Harris County Jail under a $70,000.00 and $80,000.00 bond respectively for both charges.


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