HPD: Maintenance man confesses to child sex assault, more victims suspected

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Police say a 62-year-old man has confessed to sexually assaulting at least two young girls in southwest Houston. But that confession, authorities say, may be just the beginning of what they find about Billy Gaston Young's history with little girls in the Houston area.

Young was arrested on March 21. He is behind bars now and charged with sexual assault of a child.

A week earlier, police say Young became a sexual assault suspect after a clerk at a cell phone store in the 9800 block of Bissonnet told them a customer brought in a phone from a friend and wanted to activate it on his account. During the activation, the employee claims he saw child porn on the phone. The clerk called police and officers confiscated the phone and say they found several videos of a sexual assault of two young girls ages 10 and 16 years old.

Police say an investigation into the phone led to Young, who previously owned the phone. He was arrested and police say he has confessed to the assaults.

Authorities paint a picture of Young as a serial predator who targeted low-income families with little girls.

Police say Young worked as a maintenance man at the Sugar Branch Apartments on Forum Park Drive for three or four years, and it was there he met his victims.

Police say Young would befriend families, and once he had obtained their trust, he gave them money for groceries, transportation and child care, to allow him to have access to the children.

Officer Nancy Jones of the HPD Special Victims Division, said, "He likes to befriend families that may not have a father in their life. Families that may be struggling a little bit. ... They got a little bit dependent on him that lets him have access to kids. ... During his interview, he admitted to sexually assaulting the girls."

Houston police say they believe there are more victims, adding that Young previously worked as a maintenance man at different apartment complexes in the Forum Park area of west Houston.

During the investigation and Young's interview, police say Young admitted to having contact with three other families, but would not tell officers anything about those families.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the HPD Special Victims Division at 713-308-1100.