ICE officer Mario Alberto Morales, 33, turned himself in at a Harris County courtroom on Monday after a grand jury indicted him the previous Friday. He is accused of striking Miguel Parra-Hernandez with a vehicle on Oct. 10. He was released on a $30,000 bond, and his lawyers deny wrongdoing.
ICE officer Mario Alberto Morales, 33, turned himself in on Monday after being indicted the previous week in connection with running over a man on foot. He surrendered at a Harris County courtroom on Monday morning, accompanied by legal counsel. His attorney had said beforehand that he would turn himself in on Monday.
A Harris County grand jury indicted Morales on Friday on a second-degree felony charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. The indictment was announced Friday by Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare and Sheriff Ed Gonzalez. The charge stems from an Oct. 10 incident that seriously injured Miguel Parra Hernandez. Prosecutors accuse Morales of striking Parra-Hernandez with his vehicle, breaking his leg and ankle.
Morales was filmed running over a fleeing pedestrian during an Oct. 10 vehicle pursuit in Houston. The grand jury charged him after Parra Hernandez was struck by an unmarked government vehicle in a parking lot. The man struck was Miguel Parra-Hernandez, 48. Teare said Morales is one of the surge hires ICE made in 2025.
If convicted, Morales could face two to 20 years in prison, according to Teare. The charge carries up to 20 years in prison.
Morales was released on a $30,000 bond after a hearing before District Judge Matthew Peneguy. According to court records, he posted a non-arrest bond after the judge set the amount.
Morales' lawyer David Lindenmuth called the case a political prosecution and said the collision was nothing more than an accident. Lindenmuth said the strike was accidental and happened as Morales reacted to avoid hitting a car in front of him. The attorney maintains that his client never intended to strike Parra Hernandez. An attorney for the officer also said his client had not committed any crime.
Defense attorney Michael Wynne called the indictment politically motivated and said the team anticipates filing to move the case to federal court. Wynne said Morales's side will push to move the case to federal court as soon as possible. Teare said his office anticipated this and believes the case will eventually be tried in a Harris County courthouse.
An ICE spokesperson called the indictment a political stunt by Houston sanctuary politicians. The spokesperson also said allegations that ICE struck Parra-Hernandez intentionally are reckless and false.
