AP Photograph/Alex Brandon
An city park ranger accused of abusing his energy by extorting and sexually assaulting a number of individuals throughout parks in Houston was arrested and indicted by a grand jury on 20 federal fees Tuesday, in response to courtroom paperwork.
Joey Lamar Ellis, who allegedly focused members of the LGBTQIA+ neighborhood, has been on the heart of a federal civil rights investigation launched by the FBI earlier this 12 months. Prosecutors have constantly sought victims of Ellis, who’s accused of utilizing his official capability to threaten park patrons and demand cash from them in change for his or her launch.
Civil rights violations are alleged by no less than eight of Ellis’s victims, officers stated.
In response to federal courtroom paperwork, Ellis was indicted on 15 counts of deprivation of rights underneath colour of legislation, three counts of brandishing a firearm and two counts of witness tampering.
RELATED: FBI launches investigation into Houston park ranger accused of sexual assault
Shade of legislation violations happen when any authorities official, legislation enforcement or elected official asserts their energy to deprive an individual of any proper protected by the structure or legal guidelines of the U.S., in response to the Division of Justice.
Ellis was arrested earlier this 12 months on state fees of official oppression and an enhanced sexual assault cost.
Ryan Fremuth, who’s representing Ellis in state courtroom, on Tuesday stated that Ellis has continued to keep up his personal innocence.
“We knew that one thing would ultimately be coming as a result of the FBI put out the assertion a pair months in the past,” Fremuth stated. “The truth that they took motion at present was surprising. … He has stated since day one which he hasn’t carried out this.”
“It ought to have simply been a typical courtroom setting the place we speak about some proof that was excellent and a few details of the case,” Fremuth stated. “Now he has two batches of fees. My case will reset to March the place we’ll proceed to push in opposition to the dismissal of the costs.”
In response to fees, Ellis would place his city-owned automobile behind his victims’ vehicles to stop them from leaving. He allegedly confiscated their licenses or cell telephones and accused them of crimes earlier than providing them a manner out of being arrested or towed.
On some events, Ellis allegedly utilized his firearm in a technique to threaten his victims. Prosecutors stated Ellis demanded cash from them or demanded sexual acts by forcing victims to strip bare and sexually assault one other, in response to the justice division.
“The indictment accuses Ellis of leveraging his authority to intimidate victims, demanding cash or, in additional disturbing situations, forcing them into undesirable sexual acts,” U.S. Lawyer Alamdar Hamdani stated in an announcement.
“This alleged breach of public belief underscores the horror of these utilizing their energy for alleged illegal positive factors, leaving communities questioning the integrity of their protectors,” Hamdani stated.
Ellis was set to make an preliminary look at 2 p.m. earlier than a U.S. Justice of the Peace Choose.
Individuals who consider they could have been extorted or sexually assaulted by Ellis are inspired to get in contact with brokers by filling out a web based kind on the FBI’s web site.
