One Year Since Release of Convicted Child Predator: Still At Large, Endangering Children

Houston, Texas, February 24, 2025 – Today marks the one-year anniversary of the release of Carlos Jose Ayala Morales, a convicted child predator who is now on the run and considered a significant threat to public safety. Ayala Morales was released from prison on February 22, 2024, after serving approximately five years and three months of a seven-year sentence. 

Carlos Jose Ayala Morales' criminal history includes convictions for multiple offenses, including indecency with a child by sexual contact, indecency with a child by exposure, evading arrest with a vehicle, and burglary of a building. In 2018, he pleaded guilty to four counts of indecency with a child—three involving sexual contact with victims aged 12 and 14, and one involving exposure to an 8-year-old girl—as well as evading arrest. He was sentenced to seven years for each count but was allowed to serve the sentences concurrently, resulting in an effective total of seven years. Despite being eligible for up to 20 years in prison under Texas law, this reduced sentence was part of a plea agreement.

On January 27, 2025, just 11 months after his release, Ayala Morales sexually assaulted a 7-year-old girl in the Woodland Heights neighborhood of Houston, igniting concerns about public safety. “He is a ticking time bomb when it comes to children,” stated Andy Kahan, Director of Victim Services and Advocacy with Crime Stoppers.

A grassroots group of parents in Woodland Heights has been instrumental in pushing law enforcement to prioritize this case. Their efforts have resulted in two significant developments:

  1. Ayala Morales has been added to the Texas sex offender registry, correcting a previous failure in the criminal justice system.

  2. He has been placed on Texas' 10 Most Wanted Fugitives List.

The failure to initially register Ayala Morales as a sex offender upon his release is currently under investigation, highlighting systemic issues within the criminal justice system.

Texas Crime Stoppers is offering a cash reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to Ayala Morales' arrest. Tips can be submitted anonymously through the Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-252-TIPS (8477), the DPS website, or Facebook.

Ayala Morales is described as 5 feet 8 inches tall, weighing approximately 230-250 pounds, with tattoos on his abdomen, back, right hand, and both arms. He is considered a risk to children and the community at large.

Authorities urge anyone with information about Ayala Morales' whereabouts to come forward immediately to ensure public safety and bring him to justice.

To report tips anonymously:

  • Reference: HPD case 01190330-25