LEVELLAND, TX -- After kidnapping and assaulting a 9-year-old girl, a Levelland man has pleaded guilty.
According to court documents, back in August 27-year-old Damien Dre Gonzales was at a birthday party.
While at the party, Gonzales began talking to the victim and told her he would buy her a hamster. Taking advantage of the fact that everyone in attendance was distracted aiding a woman who was choking, Gonzales asked the girl to help him take beer to his car.
The suspect then convinced the girl to get into his vehicle.
Even though he initially pleaded not guilty to kidnapping, he later admitted to taking the girl with the intent to “illicit sexual intercourse.”
Gonzales then drove for several miles before hitting a mailbox and parking his vehicle in the middle of the road. He then sexually assaulted the child.
The victim's family called the police to report her disappearance. Officers were later dispatched to a nearby area for reports of a mysterious parked car.
When officers arrived at the area, they found a car with the headlights off, the trunk open, and the emergency flashers blinking.
As officers approached, the child pulled her clothes back. The child was shaking and said Gonzales tried to have sex with her.
As officers approached Gonzales, they recognized him from previous encounters. Police did not believe the suspect's story and noted his jeans were unzipped and his belt was unbuckled.
After searching the vehicle law enforcement located methamphetamine and an open box of condoms. It appeared one was missing.
The child's father arrived at the scene and tried to attack Gonzales, so the police broke up the fight and placed Gonzales in handcuffs.
While in police custody, Gonzales tried to kick his way out of the patrol vehicle and damaged the door.
As he was being transported to Hockley County Jail, Gonzales told officers he would be going to jail for 20 years and threatened to beat them up.
In addition to the kidnapping charge he pled guilty to, Gonzales is facing three counts of aggravated sexual assault. The additional victims have been identified as girls under 13.
Gonzales' bond has been set at $400,00 and has a federal marshall hold.
Post a comment to this article here: