Lester Batres Jr., a rising Houston-area mixed martial arts prospect, was arrested on May 8 and is facing an allegation of sexual assault of a child, according to court booking information. Montgomery County deputies took Batres into custody after an incident reported on W. Davis Street, with booking records listing a $50,000 bond and a court reference to D359. He remains in local custody while the case moves through the Montgomery County court system.
Montgomery County booking details reviewed by MMA News identify the charge as "sexual assault of a child" and tie the matter to district court designation D359. The outlet notes the arrest occurred earlier this month and confirms the $50,000 bond amount listed in the booking entry.
In the cage, Batres has put together a 7-1 professional record on regional shows, competing under the nickname "The Unit," according to Tapology. Tapology's event listings show his most recent win as a first-round submission over Dumar Roa at Fury FC 111 in November 2025.
Gym Cuts Ties
Renzo Gracie Lake Houston, the academy where Batres previously trained, publicly severed ties after learning of the arrest. In a Facebook statement, the gym said he was "immediately terminated from all involvement and permanently banned from our academy," according to reporting that reproduced the post. The statement and the gym's decision to distance itself from Batres were reported by MMA News.
Local booking logs show this is not Batres' first time in the Montgomery County jail. He was previously booked on December 19, 2024, on charges listed as possession of marijuana and unlicensed carrying of a weapon, according to a community-level roundup of jail bookings. Those entries appear in the Montgomery County Police Reporter's jail-booking recap, as documented by Montgomery County Police Reporter.
Legal Context
Under Texas law, sexual assault is defined in Section 22.011 of the Penal Code. When the alleged victim is a child, the offense is treated as a serious felony. Legal summaries note that convictions under Section 22.011 are typically charged as felonies and can carry significantly heavier penalties in certain circumstances, as outlined by FindLaw.
The case involving Batres is currently pending in Montgomery County courts under reference D359. Any formal filings, hearings and further public records will be reflected on county dockets as the matter proceeds. This story will be updated as additional court documents and official statements become available.
