Former officer charged with sexually assaulting two women while on duty

HOUSTON – Authorities are seeking other potential victims following the return of an indictment against a 25-year-old Arcola man on federal civil rights violations, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick. 

Hector Aaron Ruiz is a former officer with the Arcola Police Department but is no longer employed there.

Law enforcement took him into custody today. He is expected to make his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Andrew M. Edison at 2 p.m. today.

The Houston federal grand jury indicted Ruiz Nov. 10. The charges allege he committed aggravated sexual abuse and kidnapping while serving in his official capacity as a law enforcement officer.

He is charged with two counts of depriving two separate victims of their right to bodily integrity. If convicted, he faces up to life in prison.

He also faces charges of two counts of carrying and using a firearm in a crime of violence as well as falsifying dashboard camera and body microphone recordings with the intent to obstruct the federal investigation. The latter charge carries a maximum 20-year-prisons sentence. If convicted of the firearms charges, he faces a mandatory minimum of five years that must be served consecutively  to any other prison term imposed.

The FBI and Texas Rangers are conducting the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sharad S. Khandelwal and Sebastian Edwards are prosecuting the case.

Authorities believe there may be other victims. Anyone with information about potential additional victims is asked to contact the FBI at 713-693-5000.

An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.