Austin Police Hunt J Reyes Ortiz-Perez After Sexual Assault Bond Warrant

The Austin Police Department is asking the public for help finding 47-year-old J Reyes Ortiz-Perez, who has an outstanding warrant tied to a sexual assault case. Ortiz-Perez, described as 5 feet 5 inches tall and 170 pounds, is wanted on a Motion to Revoke Personal Bond stemming from a sexual assault charge, according to the department's weekly Wanted Wednesday bulletin issued Wednesday.

The warrant, numbered D1DC21203186, was highlighted in a post from the Austin Police Department as part of its ongoing effort to crowdsource leads on suspects with active Travis County warrants. In Travis County court records, warrant numbers beginning with the D1DC prefix designate felony arrest warrants issued through Travis County District Courts, a detail that underscores this is a felony-level proceeding rather than a lower court matter. The department has used the #WantedWednesday campaign across platforms like X and Facebook for months, a recurring tactic Hoodline has covered repeatedly this year as APD works through its list of outstanding felony warrants.

A Motion to Revoke Personal Bond is a distinct legal step from the original criminal charge. Under Articles 17.09 and 17.40 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, prosecutors file such a motion when a defendant allegedly violates the conditions of release or is deemed a risk to public safety, a process that allows a judge to issue a new arrest warrant and remand the defendant back into custody. It remains unclear what specific condition Ortiz-Perez is accused of violating, whether that involves failing to report to pretrial services, contacting a victim, or an alleged new offense.

How Personal Bonds Work in Travis County

Ortiz-Perez had reportedly been released on a personal bond, a mechanism administered by Travis County Pretrial Services that allows eligible defendants to avoid posting upfront cash collateral in exchange for complying with court-mandated supervision and monitoring rules. Travis County also assesses an administrative fee of $20 to $40 for processing those bonds, though failure to pay fees alone typically results in administrative billing rather than an immediate revocation, meaning any alleged violation in this case would likely involve something more serious than an unpaid fee.

At a bond revocation hearing, the legal bar for prosecutors is notably lower than at trial. Courts require only that a release condition was violated by a preponderance of the evidence, a far less demanding standard than the reasonable doubt threshold needed for a criminal conviction. That distinction matters here: the underlying sexual assault allegation against Ortiz-Perez has not been resolved in court, and the current warrant concerns only the alleged bond violation.

Potential Penalties If Convicted

Sexual assault is classified as a second-degree felony under Texas Penal Code § 22.011, carrying a potential sentence of two to 20 years in state prison and fines of up to $10,000 upon conviction. A conviction would also trigger a mandatory lifetime sex offender registration requirement under Texas law. None of those penalties have been imposed, and the allegations against Ortiz-Perez remain unproven in court.

Investigators note that the mugshot circulated in the bulletin is dated June 15, 2021, meaning the image is now more than five years old and may not reflect Ortiz-Perez's current appearance. That gap could complicate identification efforts for anyone who spots him in public, though APD has not offered an updated photo or explained the discrepancy.

How to Submit a Tip

Capital Area Crime Stoppers is offering up to $1,000 for information leading to Ortiz-Perez's arrest. The organization accepts tips anonymously, assigning each tipster a unique code number so cash rewards can be collected at designated locations without anyone having to reveal their identity. Tips can be submitted through Crime Stoppers' website or by calling 512-472-8477.