Immigrant arraigned for attacks

April 30, 2008
Immigrant arraigned for attacks
By Dan Packard
dan.packard@amarillo.com
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An illegal immigrant accused of burglary and sexual assault in Wellington was arraigned Tuesday and remained in the Collingsworth County Jail on $550,000 bond.

"The people can rest a little better, be more at ease."
Joe Stewart, Collingsworth County Sheriff

Department of Public Safety Trooper Daniel Hawthorne said Collingsworth County Justice of the Peace JoRita Henard arraigned Jose Ayala Nunez, 42, of Honduras on two first-degree felony counts of burglary of a habitation with intent to commit a felony, one first-degree felony count of aggravated sexual assault and three state jail charges of possession of fraudulent government documents.
Collingsworth County Sheriff Joe Stewart said Nunez is an illegal immigrant from Honduras who had two fraudulent Social Security cards and a fraudulent green card in his possession.

"The green card is a card that lets him stay in the United States," Stewart said. "The Social Security numbers belong to other people. It's an identity-theft type thing."

Stewart said he didn't know where Nunez resided before he showed up in Wellington.

Lawmen from the sheriff's office, the Texas Rangers and other agencies arrested Nunez on Sunday at a residence in Wellington.

On March 17, the sheriff's office received a report on a sexual assault and received a second report April 10.

After a third report April 25, the sheriff's office involved the Texas Rangers and other law-enforcement agencies.

On Sunday evening, investigators followed leads that led to the arrest of Nunez.

Stewart said the arrest came quickly once investigators obtained certain information.

"The people can rest a little better, be more at ease," Stewart said.

As for the sheriff, "I'm tired," he said.

Hawthorne said investigators continue to build their case and continue to process evidence.

A first-degree felony carries a maximum sentence of five to 99 years or life in prison per offense and a fine not to exceed $10,000, according to the Texas Penal Code.

A state jail felony carries a maximum sentence of two years in jail and a $10,000 fine.

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