Grand Jury Indicts Four on Sex Crimes

A Tom Green County grand jury met for two days this month, handing down 67 indictments among the four district courts. Among those were four indicted for sex crimes, three of which involved underage children.

Kidnapping and Sexual Assault

Daniel Armenta, a 28-year-old San Angelo man who was jailed on March 17 for allegedly kidnapping a teenage girl from a Mertzon high school, transporting her to San Angelo and assaulting her, has been indicted by a Tom Green County grand jury on two second-degree felony charges.

Both counts stem from incidents that allegedly occurred over a span of 24 hours, first in Mertzon and then in San Angelo, and include sexual assault of a child and indecency with a child sexual contact.

If convicted, Armenta could face two to 20 years in prison and a fine not to exceed $10,000.

Seven-Year Difference

Juan Gerardo Verdugo’s victim was 10 years old on the day that he allegedly snuck into her grandparent’s home and exposed himself to her, making inappropriate physical contact and leaving hickies on her neck. Verdugo is 17.

An adult family member of the victim told police that she had pretended to be the little girl and had gone online to engage Verdugo in a conversation, during which he admitted to the sexual abuse, a complaint filed with the case states.

In a later forensic interview at the Hope House, the victim told the whole story, which is alleged to have taken place on Nov. 28. Verdugo was arrested on Feb. 18 for indecency while a child by exposure, but was indicted this month for indecency with a child sexual contact, a second-degree felony. 

Unplanned Pregnancy

It had been less than a month after 20-year-old Michael Flores had engaged in sexual intercourse with a 15-year-old minor when the girl’s mother caught wind of the purported pregnancy and called the police.

According to a complaint written by detective Brian Elkins, the girl had been communicating with Flores via cell phone and text messages that were discovered during the investigation. The investigation revealed the two were discussing a pregnancy scare.

In a forensic interview, the victim provided investigators with the details of the incident, including location and a date, Oct. 25, 2014, the complaint states. Flores, who consented to an interview with Elkins via telephone, admitted to having the sexual relations and knowing that the girl was only 15.

Flores was jailed for sexual assault of a child on Feb. 19. He was indicted on the second-degree felony charge this month.

Sexual Assault

Travis Murphy, 38, stands accused of a third-degree felony sexual assault charge after allegedly sexually assaulting an adult woman on Feb. 21.

Murphy was indicted on the charge in June this year and was jailed on a capias warrant on June 9. That day, he posted a $25,000 bond and was released from the facility. He is to have no contact with the victim.

He faces a third-degree felony is punishable by two to 20 years in prison and a fine not to exceed $10,000.