Arlington police arrested 52-year-old Rodney Reyna last Wednesday after a woman told investigators he sexually abused her when she was a child, authorities said. Reyna is being held in the Tarrant County Jail on a $500,000 bond and faces one count of indecency with a child by sexual contact. Detectives say they obtained a warrant, and members of the U.S. Marshals North Texas Fugitive Task Force took Reyna into custody.
The woman reported the alleged abuse to police on April 23, describing what investigators called "inappropriate sexual contact" that she said happened about 12 or 13 years ago when she was a minor. Detectives presented the case to a judge, who issued the arrest warrant. Court records and police accounts list a single felony charge and the bond amount, and Reyna's attorney, James Luster, was not immediately available for comment. The case details were first reported by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
Investigation and arrest
Detectives with the Arlington Police Department's Crimes Against Children Unit led the investigation and secured the arrest warrant, according to the department. The unit works closely with the Alliance for Children investigative center in Arlington, which provides forensic interviews and victim services in child-abuse cases. Once the warrant was in hand, the U.S. Marshals North Texas Fugitive Task Force assisted in locating Reyna and taking him into custody.
What the charge means
Texas Penal Code §21.11 defines indecency with a child by contact as sexual touching of someone younger than 17. A conviction for that contact offense is typically treated as a second-degree felony, which under Texas law carries a possible sentence of two to 20 years in prison and potential fines, according to Penal Code §12.33. Some child-related sex offenses can also trigger sex-offender registration and other post-conviction obligations under state law.
Next steps
Reyna remains in custody as prosecutors prepare formal charging documents and court officials schedule initial hearings. His attorney, James Luster, was not immediately available for comment when reached Saturday, according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Arlington police say anyone with information about the case is urged to contact investigators or Crime Stoppers.
Help and resources
Victims and families seeking support can contact the Arlington Police Department's Victim Services Unit or the Alliance for Children center for advocacy and forensic interviews, which the city outlines in its public safety resources. For information about sex-offender registration and reporting obligations, the Texas Department of Public Safety publishes sex-offender resources for the public.
