A former Grapevine church youth leader and assistant football coach is facing four felony child sex abuse charges after police secretly held him in custody for nearly three weeks while they dug into whether he had more victims. Carlos Ernesto Ramos, 39, was arrested on August 26, 2026, but Grapevine police did not make that arrest public until Tuesday, as investigators worked to gather additional information.
Ramos was booked into the Tarrant County Jail shortly after his arrest, according to FOX 4 News Dallas-Fort Worth. He is being held on a $500,000 bond, per the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, which reports Ramos was arrested after being accused of sexually abusing a child in 2023. Court and police records reviewed by the paper show he faces charges of continuous sexual abuse of a child under 14, indecency with a child by sexual contact, indecency with a child by exposure, and aggravated sexual assault of a child.
A Single Known Allegation, But a Long History Around Kids
The only formal allegation against Ramos on record dates back to 2023, even though he spent years in roles that put him around children. CBS News reports that Ramos served as a volunteer youth leader at a Grapevine church from 2020 to 2023 and worked as an assistant youth football coach from 2022 to 2024. Detectives are investigating whether there could be more victims, though police have said no further details will be released while the investigation continues.
Grapevine police confirmed they are actively investigating whether additional victims exist. The Star-Telegram reports that parents or guardians whose child disclosed information, or who have specific knowledge of inappropriate conduct involving Ramos, are being asked to contact detectives directly.
Police Draw a Careful Line on Who Should Call
Anticipating a flood of calls from worried parents, Grapevine police were direct about who actually needs to report something. Simply knowing Ramos or having had a child participate in a group he led is not, on its own, a reason to file a police report. Instead, guardians with explicit disclosures or specific knowledge of misconduct are being asked to come forward.
Those tips can go to Detective Steven Velez at 817-410-3268, or to the department's criminal investigations division at [email protected], per the Star-Telegram's reporting on the case.
What Ramos Is Facing Under Texas Law
The most serious charge, continuous sexual abuse of a child under 14, is a first-degree felony under Texas Penal Code Section 21.02 that carries a mandatory minimum of 25 years and up to 99 years or life in prison, with no parole eligibility until that full 25-year minimum is served, according to Deandra Grant Law. That statute allows prosecutors to file the charge when two or more abusive acts occur over 30 or more days.
Ramos's aggravated sexual assault of a child charge, filed under Texas Penal Code Section 22.021, is also a first-degree felony, carrying five to 99 years or life in prison. Texas's Jessica's Law amendments impose a 25-year mandatory minimum when the victim is under 6, or when the victim is under 14 and an additional aggravating factor, such as a weapon, serious injury or drugging, is present, according to Varghese Summersett. His two indecency charges are indecency with a child by sexual contact and indecency with a child by exposure.
How Tarrant County Handles These Cases
Tarrant County's handling of these cases, including the role of its Special Victims Unit and Alliance For Children, is not detailed in the supplied reporting, which also does not provide statistics about Alliance For Children.
Hoodline has previously reported on a life sentence handed down after a Tarrant County jury convicted a man of continuous sexual abuse of a child under 14.
