this guy should still be in jail, imho...

[schufflerbot]

http://www.click2houston.com/news/29246659/detail.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

i cant even begin to fathom how badly i would have lost it on this guy had it been my daughter in this situation.

[speedsix]

...I believe kidnapping makes the list...what jail???

[marinemom]

I would be in Jail for Murder.. this piece of garbage got out of jail with $2000 bond?????

[Medic624]

See, this is the kind of useless human skin that would have never made it to the police car. If that were my daughter he would have had a VERY VERY bad day.

[Scott in Houston]

This is a scenario that makes me worry about carrying...

I'm not 100% sure I could avoid using it against someone like this if that were my daughter.
Then, I'd be in prison longer than he would have been had he lived.

It's infuriating that he won't even be labeled a sex criminal.

[Keith B]

It wasn't kiddnapping unfortunately, just Unlawful Restraint. So, use of deadly force is NOT justified. Still is a state jail felony as the girl was under 14. Here is the statute:

PENAL CODE

CHAPTER 20. KIDNAPPING AND UNLAWFUL RESTRAINT

§ 20.01. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
(1) "Restrain" means to restrict a person's movements without consent, so as to interfere substantially with the person's liberty, by moving the person from one place to another or by confining the person. Restraint is "without consent" if it is accomplished by:
(A) force, intimidation, or deception; or
(B) any means, including acquiescence of the victim, if:
(i) the victim is a child who is less than 14 years of age or an incompetent person and the parent, guardian, or person or institution acting in loco parentis has not acquiesced in the movement or confinement; or
(ii) the victim is a child who is 14 years of age or older and younger than 17 years of age, the victim is taken outside of the state and outside a 120-mile radius from the victim's residence, and the parent, guardian, or person or institution acting in loco parentis has not acquiesced in the movement.
(2) "Abduct" means to restrain a person with intent to prevent his liberation by:
(A) secreting or holding him in a place where he is not likely to be found; or
(B) using or threatening to use deadly force.
(3) "Relative" means a parent or stepparent, ancestor, sibling, or uncle or aunt, including an adoptive relative of the same degree through marriage or adoption.
(4) "Person" means an individual, corporation, or association.
(5) Notwithstanding Section 1.07, "individual" means a human being who has been born and is alive.

Acts 1973, 63rd Leg., p. 883, ch. 399, § 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1974.
Amended by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 900, § 1.01, eff. Sept. 1, 1994; Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 790, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999;
Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 822, § 2.03, eff. Sept. 1, 2003.

§ 20.02. UNLAWFUL RESTRAINT.
(a) A person commits an offense if he intentionally or knowingly restrains another person.
(b) It is an affirmative defense to prosecution under this section that:
(1) the person restrained was a child younger than 14 years of age;
(2) the actor was a relative of the child; and
(3) the actor's sole intent was to assume lawful control of the child.
(c) An offense under this section is a Class A misdemeanor, except that the offense is:
(1) a state jail felony if the person restrained was a child younger than 17 years of age; or
(2) a felony of the third degree if:
(A) the actor recklessly exposes the victim to a substantial risk of serious bodily injury;
(B) the actor restrains an individual the actor knows is a public servant while the public servant is lawfully discharging an official duty or in retaliation or on account of an exercise of official power or performance of an official duty as a public servant; or
(C) the actor while in custody restrains any other person.
(d) It is no offense to detain or move another under this section when it is for the purpose of effecting a lawful arrest or detaining an individual lawfully arrested.
(e) It is an affirmative defense to prosecution under this section that:
(1) the person restrained was a child who is 14 years of age or older and younger than 17 years of age;
(2) the actor does not restrain the child by force, intimidation, or deception; and
(3) the actor is not more than three years older than the child.

Acts 1973, 63rd Leg., p. 883, ch. 399, § 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1974.
Amended by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 900, § 1.01, eff. Sept. 1, 1994; Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 707, § 1(b), 2, eff. Sept. 1, 1997; Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 790, § 2, eff. Sept. 1, 1999;
Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 524, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 2001.

§ 20.03. KIDNAPPING.
(a) A person commits an offense if he intentionally or knowingly abducts another person.
(b) It is an affirmative defense to prosecution under this section that:
(1) the abduction was not coupled with intent to use or to threaten to use deadly force;
(2) the actor was a relative of the person abducted; and
(3) the actor's sole intent was to assume lawful control of the victim.
(c) An offense under this section is a felony of the third degree.

Acts 1973, 63rd Leg., p. 883, ch. 399, § 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1974.
Amended by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 900, § 1.01, eff. Sept. 1, 1994.

§ 20.04. AGGRAVATED KIDNAPPING.
(a) A person commits an offense if he intentionally or knowingly abducts another person with the intent to:
(1) hold him for ransom or reward;
(2) use him as a shield or hostage;
(3) facilitate the commission of a felony or the flight after the attempt or commission of a felony;
(4) inflict bodily injury on him or violate or abuse him sexually;
(5) terrorize him or a third person; or
(6) interfere with the performance of any governmental or political function.
(b) A person commits an offense if the person intentionally or knowingly abducts another person and uses or exhibits a deadly weapon during the commission of the offense.
(c) Except as provided by Subsection (d), an offense under this section is a felony of the first degree.
(d) At the punishment stage of a trial, the defendant may raise the issue as to whether he voluntarily released the victim in a safe place. If the defendant proves the issue in the affirmative by a preponderance of the evidence, the offense is a felony of the second degree.

Acts 1973, 63rd Leg., p. 883, ch. 399, § 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1974.
Amended by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 900, § 1.01, eff. Sept. 1, 1994; Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 318, § 4, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.

[speedsix]

...I think he fit abduction's definition by taking her into the bathroom stall where she wouldn't be noticed...and the aggravated kidnapping when he abducted her to facilitate the commission of a felony...he'd have been dead meat if I'd found him with her...and I'd have paid whatever tab I ran up...some things are worth sticking your neck out for...this is one...

[CheBC]

How do they let this guy out on $2000 bond? He shouldn't be let out at all. Is there someone we can write to about this? Whoever let this person out on bond should lose their job.

[Keith B]

...I think he fit abduction's definition by taking her into the bathroom stall where she wouldn't be noticed...and the aggravated kidnapping when he abducted her to facilitate the commission of a felony...he'd have been dead meat if I'd found him with her...and I'd have paid whatever tab I ran up...some things are worth sticking your neck out for...this is one...

New evidence from testimony of witnesses or the girl could cause the prosecutor to change the charge from unlawful restraint to kidnapping or even aggravated kidnapping if they find he threatened her.

[Texas Size 11]

Wow...besides trying to assault a young girl the Einstein actually locked himself in a stall. Was he thinking he'd be safe or if it is a good hiding place that the cops wouldn't find him? This would be a good candidate for thinning the herd.

[unhappycamper]

i cant even begin to fathom how badly i would have lost it on this guy had it been my daughter in this situation.

He sounds like a TSA wannabe. I'm surprised you're not defending him.

[schufflerbot]

i cant even begin to fathom how badly i would have lost it on this guy had it been my daughter in this situation.

He sounds like a TSA wannabe. I'm surprised you're not defending him.

[unhappycamper]

You're right. There's not enough evidence that he went as far as some TSA employees do when groping kids.

[Katygunnut]

Call me paranoid if you want to.

My daughters are 11 and 9, and they have been going to public restrooms by themselves for a while now when their Mom is not with us. Whenever this happens, I will watch them to the restroom door, and will keep a watch on the door until they come out. If we are eating in a restaurant, I will move tables (fast food place) or will get up and stand near the restrooms if I don't have a clear line of sight from wherever we are sitting. If they are not out within a few minutes, I send their sister to check on her and tell her to come back out immediately as soon as she makes sure everything is OK. If the sister was to go in and not come out immediately, I would be going in the door myself. This last part has not happened yet.

My biggest concern is with the places that have both restrooms behind a door, and where there is a back door (usually an emergency exit at the end of the hallway). I'm most concerned about a perv snatching a girl and then making a dash for the backdoor.

I also play a little game with my daughters after we have been in a new restaurant for 10-15 minutes. I have them both close their eyes, and then tell me how many exits are in the building (including reasonable guesses about doors in the kitchen, etc)., I ask them where the nearest exit is, and what the safest way out of the building would be (from where we are sitting) if a bad guy came through the front door. Its a good way to pass the time while waiting for food.

[speedsix]

...your little game and your vigilance are gifts to your girls that will be remembered and carried on all their lives...congrats, Superdad!!!