HCSO: Sexual predators posed as music producers to lure teen
HARRIS COUNTY, TX (KTRK) -- The Harris County Sheriff's Office says a teen was lured away from home and sexually assaulted by two men using popular social media apps.
Watch the full press conference below:
Sheriff Ron Hickman said the 15-year-old victim interacted with two known gang members on direct messaging apps known as KIK and MeetMe.com.
These apps do not use cell phone minutes or count against text messaging limits, so their use can be difficult to track.
The girl, who lives in northeast Texas, reportedly traveled to Harris County where she met two men who allegedly posed as music producers.
Hickman said they took her to a trailer in northeast Harris County, where they sexually assaulted her multiple times for five or six days.
The victim was able to call a friend for help and through the friend's assistance they reported the incident to police.
Days later deputies arrested Francisco Anavisca, 25. Officers found him in a NE Harris County Neighborhood.
As investigators were searching for him, Myriam Avila says Francisco was hiding underneath her mobile home.
Avila says she saw Anavisca run by the front of house and she looked out the window in fear.
"I'm looking out. I see police. I'm saying, I don't know what happened," said Myriam Avila.
Minutes later Anavisca was arrested. Then days later, deputies arrested the second suspect Pedro Lopez, 24.
Hickman said both men have lengthy criminal records and are both documented gang members.
Deputies believe the girl was sexually assaulted in a trailer near where Anavisca was arrested. At this time, they haven't determined the exact location of the assault.
Anavisca was wanted on an outstanding warrant for sexual assault in Deer Park.
Lopez, meantime, is a convicted felon who was born in Mexico. Hickman said in addition to facing a variety of criminal charges, Lopez had been twice deported from Texas.
The sheriff acknowledged that without the girl's "outstanding presence of mind," something else could have happened.
Meantime, Hickman says the story should serve as a wake-up call to parents who are not familiar with their children's internet activities.
