XPost: talk.politics.guns, houston.politics, talk.politics.misc   
   XPost: alt.abortion, sac.politics   
   From: february2025@jail.time   
      
   https://media.khou.com/assets/KHOU/images/a0d734b1-ecce-499a-9ab   
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   Joey Lamar Ellis   
      
   HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- A Houston park ranger accused of luring gay men to   
   the park, sexually assaulting them, and robbing them is facing new charges as   
   officials say more victims have come forward.   
      
   Two new charges were filed against 33-year-old Joey Lamar Ellis, who appeared   
   before a judge Monday morning. He now faces three total charges: one sexual   
   assault charge and two charges of official oppression. Prosecutors have also   
   added a hate crime    
   enhancement to the sexual assault charge because he allegedly targeted his   
   victims based on their sexuality.   
      
   According to prosecutors, one of the alleged incidents happened at Memorial   
   Park, while another at Cullen Park, where he allegedly forced a man to strip   
   naked in June.   
      
   When the allegations against him came to light, he only had one charge of   
   official oppression.   
      
   In June's incident, the alleged victim, Joshua Beede, told ABC13 he was asleep   
   in his car when Ellis knocked on his window wearing a park ranger uniform.   
   Beede said Ellis threatened to arrest him if he didn't give up his cash or   
   take off his clothes,    
   making it known he had a gun in his pocket.   
      
   Ellis also allegedly demanded Beede use a dating app to lure other men to the   
   park so they, too, could presumably be robbed. Eventually, Beede said he gave   
   Ellis money and went along with it until he could get away to call 911.   
      
   "I was, like, fearful for my life, so I was doing everything he said," Beede   
   explained. "He knew what he was doing though. He's probably done it before. He   
   didn't look nervous doing it."   
      
   ABC13 spoke with the district attorney about the case following Monday's court   
   appearance.   
      
   "We had one charge, and that was with one complainant," Asst. District   
   Attorney Kimberly Smith said. "Since then, we've had additional victims come   
   forward, and we're so grateful to them because without their bravery - without   
   their courage - this would    
   not be possible."   
      
   Smith said they believe there are additional victims, and more charges will be   
   filed against Ellis.   
      
   "He's showing up at these parks where he's not assigned to work. But he's   
   showing up to these other locations where he'll find a single male or maybe   
   two males, approach them, and coerce them into either performing a sexual act   
   or giving him money,"    
   Smith added. "We do believe that this defendant is targeting these individuals   
   because of their ... sexuality."   
      
   However, Ellis' court-appointed attorney pushed back against the charges.   
      
   "He denies this wholeheartedly," defense attorney Ryan Fremuth said on Monday.   
   "Mr. Ellis has no criminal history. He appears to be a very good and respected   
   man. He has a very close family network, and he's denying these allegations   
   wholeheartedly."   
      
   Shortly after the alleged incident in June, the Houston Parks and Recreation   
   Department confirmed they were notified about the park ranger's arrest and   
   released the following statement:   
      
   "The Houston Parks and Recreation Department has been made aware of the arrest   
   of Urban Park Ranger Joey Ellis. The Department has removed him from the work   
   schedule at this time and the public can be assured that appropriate measures   
   are being taken    
   while HPD investigates."   
      
   A judge set a $75,000 bond for the new sexual assault charge and $60,000 for   
   each official oppression charge, totaling $195,000.   
      
      
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