INGLESIDE, Texas — A sexual assault case that dates back to October of last year, has led police to believe there may be more victims. Authorities are hoping they come forward.
Albert Lara, 22, and Logan Covert, 20, are now behind bars at the San Patricio County Jail after being arrested and charged with sexual assault of a child.
Each with a $250,000 bond, the case has been filed with the district attorney’s office. And now police want parents to talk with their kids to see if they have any additional information or could have been a victim themselves.
Captain Conrad Guzman of the Ingleside Police Department said N.O. Simmons Skate Park is where it all started.
“This was just the meeting grounds for this specific incident,” he said.
Guzman said two men would meet and befriend underage victims — both male and female between the ages of 10-14. Police said they would provide them with drugs and alcohol then sexually assault them.
“As of this moment, it’s an isolated incident with only one victim,” Guzman said.
For Justin Samford, watching his kid at the skate park in Ingleside is something he enjoys as a father.
“Just as a protective parent, I come over here with him,” Samford said. “I don’t mind sitting here watching the kids scoot and skate and learn new tricks.”
He’s not just a protective parent though, he’s also a member of Bikers Against Child Abuse — an international non-profit that empowers children who have been abused.
“I hate anyone that abuses children,” he said. “I hope that they all get caught and punished with the full extent of the law.”
Although the initial incident happened months ago, Guzman — who is with the Ingleside Criminal Investigation Division — said they have reason to believe more children have been victimized.
“If they are 14-years-old — the child,” he said. “And they are associating with a 23-year-old, there’s something unusual there and their parents need to intervene.”
Guzman said this can happen anywhere.
“It’s no different than HEB, Walmart, Snapchat, Facebook,” he said. “A predator can search for a victim at any given location.”
Guzman says this skate park is family-oriented and typically safe for children.
“There’s a constant patrol,” he said. “As you can see, we have cameras that are set up to monitor on a regular basis.”
Parents of victims are asked to call the Ingleside Police Department at (361) 776-2531 with any information.
“They’re not alone,” Samford said. “There’s a lot of people who have been a victim of abuse of some sort. And there’s definitely help out there.”