Transient accused of asking 14-year-old boy for sex | Crime

A California drifter is being held in the Craighead County Detention Center on $25,000 bond, accused of asking a 14-year-old boy for sex.

According to Jonesboro police, 30-year-old Hector E. Morales of Salinas approached the boy just after 8 p.m. Saturday near the Malco Hollywood Cinema, 2407 E. Parker Rd.

The victim told police as he was walking from the BP station at the corner of Caraway Road, Morales approached him and asked for a cigarette.

After giving Morales a cigarette, the boy said Morales then asked him “if he wanted to go around the corner and do it.”  He then reportedly asked the boy, “Do you go both ways.”  According to the police report, when the boy said he did not, Morales said, “Well, I just thought you were cute.” 

The boy told police he then ran to the theater and told a security guard what had just happened.

According to the police report, “it was very obvious (the victim) was a young boy and he was upset at the questions that Morales asked him.”

Morales was arrested for sexual indecency with a child.

While en route to the Craighead County Detention Center, Morales reportedly told the officer he thought the boy “was gay so it would be ok to ask him the questions that he asked.”

On Monday, July 16, Morales was interviewed at the police station.  According to the report, he told officers he had been traveling by train and bus throughout the U.S. before stopping in Jonesboro.

He first denied asking the boy for sex then, according to the police report, he did ask.

Morales reportedly told police he thought the boy was an adult because he was smoking.

Photo provided by Craighead County Sheriff's Office.