After arriving at his apartment, Checo allegedly forced the child to watch pornographic images and attempted to sexually assault her. After holding her for several hours, the suspect released the child near the area where she was abducted. Police say Checo warned the child not to tell anyone. After arriving home, the child told her mother and was able to identify Checo.
Neighbor Katrina Allen still can't find the words to describe how she feels.
"I don't think I have to say it out loud what I think about it," she said. "It's atrocious."
Checo, 32, is charged with aggravated kidnapping and attempted aggravated sexual assault of a child. The victim was not injured. Police believe Checo intended to molest the girl, but, for some reason, he didn't follow through.
Officer J. Colburn with the Houston Police Department said, "It could have been the first time for him to do something like this and he was testing the waters, could have been something could have spooked him. We don't know exactly yet."
Neighbors say it's not uncommon for kids to walk home in this area, sometimes unattended. There are four elementary schools within a three-mile radius of Checo's home, including Sneed, Piney Point and Briarmeadow, and Emerson Elementary is right next to his apartment complex.
"They walk everyday from the school alone, sometimes with the parents, sometimes alone," said neighbor Liliana Barona.
Based on that, and Checo's alleged actions, police suspect there may be other victims. HPD investigators are asking for the public's help in finding any additional victims. If you have any information, you're asked to call HPD's Juvenile Intake Division at 713-731-5335.
