A man is in custody in North Harris County after deputies say he targeted multiple women in a string of alleged attacks near the 15300 block of Ella Boulevard at Barren Springs Drive, including an attempted carjacking and a groping incident. Constable Mark Herman's office responded to the 15300 block of Ella Boulevard at Barren Springs Drive, where deputies located and detained the male suspect.
According to Mark Herman, Harris County Constable Precinct 4, deputies first received reports of a man attempting to carjack a female victim in the area. The same suspect is also accused of groping another female victim, according to the same post. The constable's office said the investigation into the incident continues and that deputies remained on scene as the situation unfolded.
What Happens Next in Court
Under Texas Penal Code § 29.02, an attempted carjacking involving force, threats or placing a victim in fear of imminent bodily injury is prosecuted as robbery, a second-degree felony carrying two to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000, according to FindLaw. The cited statute is Texas's robbery provision.
The alleged groping could fall under Texas Penal Code § 22.012, the state's indecent assault law enacted through Senate Bill 194 in September 2019. That statute, detailed by Andrew Deegan Attorney at Law, classifies non-consensual sexual groping as a Class A misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in county jail and a fine of up to $4,000. Lawmakers created the offense to bridge the gap between a minor assault-by-contact charge and a felony sexual assault charge.
Meanwhile, the alleged indecent exposure could be charged under Texas Penal Code § 21.08, which the L&L Law Group notes is a Class B misdemeanor carrying up to 180 days in jail and a $2,000 fine. Prosecutors would need to prove the suspect acted with intent to arouse or gratify sexual desire, not merely that he was seen unclothed in public. Any charging decisions would depend on the facts and applicable law.
A Corridor With a Troubled Recent History
Precinct 4, led by Constable Mark Herman, handled the response. The response took place at the 15300 block of Ella Boulevard.
Hoodline previously reported on an Ella Boulevard death reclassified as murder.
Pedestrian Safety Upgrades Already Underway
Planned pedestrian-safety upgrades have been discussed for Ella Boulevard at West 22nd or West 23rd Street.
The investigation into the alleged attacks remains active, and the suspect's identity, formal charges from the Harris County District Attorney's Office, and the extent of any injuries to victims have not been released. Precinct 4 has also stressed in the past that everyone named in connection with an incident is considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law, and the constable's office has advised the public to avoid the area around the 15300 block of Ella Boulevard and Barren Springs Drive while deputies continue their work.
The case adds to Precinct 4's broader push to ensure arrests translate into prosecutions. In a Hoodline report from February, Constable Herman said his department had refiled more than 400 criminal cases since 2021 after they had been slated for dismissal, an initiative aimed at making sure arrests like this result in formal court proceedings rather than falling through the cracks.
