Texas – A Galveston County judge sentenced a former peace officer to 20 years in prison on Wednesday for indecency with a child and online solicitation of a minor.
Ruben Noel Ornelas, a former sheriff’s deputy in Galveston County, pleaded guilty in January to both felony offenses, according to documents from the 212th District Court.
Ornelas elected to have the Judge Patricia Grady decide his sentence at a punishment trial, which began Monday.
According to the court records , Ornelas, who was arrested November 2016, sent illicit text messages to a 15-year-old girl.Trial testimony revealed Ornelas sent multiple messages to the girl, which eventually led to a sexual encounter between the two.
During the trial, prosecutors presented evidence that the encounters occurred while Ornelas was under indictment for another felony.
In 2018, former Houston Police Officers H. Ly and L. Nguyen were among the 22 people charged, with money laundering, capping a year-long investigation into illegal gambling operations in the Chinatown area.
In 2018, former Houston Police Officers H. Ly and L. Nguyen were among the 22 people charged, with money laundering, capping a year-long investigation into illegal gambling operations in the Chinatown area.
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In May 2015, a female inmate performed oral sex on Ornelas in the county jail. The woman testified that he used his position as a deputy sheriff to pressure her into the sexual act.
The court also heard testimony from multiple witnesses who pointed out that Ornelas had a long history of sexual misconduct, which included publishing illicit photographs of women he was in a relationship with online in 2015.
A former Galveston County Sheriff’s Office deputy also testified that in 2013 Ornelas sent her a text message containing a photograph of a young girl that she thought was inappropriate.
The former deputy testified that she reported the incident to the sheriff’s office, but at the time it was not a criminal offense.
In closing argument to the court, Chief Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Ott Roth argued the defendant used his position as an officer to take advantage of multiple women and should receive the maximum punishment allowable under Texas law.
Now, Ornelas will be required to serve one-half of his sentence on the indecency with a child by sexual contact charge before he is eligible for parole.
He will also be required to register as a sex offender for life.
He was prosecuted by Roth and Assistant District Attorney Patrick Gurski in the 212th District Court.
The investigations were conducted by the Texas City Police Department and the Galveston County
Sheriff’s Office.