Man killed when allegedly molesting girl identified

Investigators have released the name of a man who was beaten to death when a father allegedly caught him trying to molest his 5-year-old daughter.

Lavaca County Sheriff Micah Harmon said the 23-year-old father, whose name has not been released, is unlikely to be arrested for Saturday's killing and that no evidence so far has led investigators to doubt his story.

"There doesn't appear to be any reason other than what he told us," Harmon said.

Lavaca County Sheriff Micah Harmon said the 23-year-old father killed Jesus Mora Flores, 47, from Gonzales, Texas.

Flores was an "acquaintance" of the father who had come to help care for some horses, Harmon said. He did not know how long the two men may have known each other. The girl was taken to a hospital to be examined and has since been released, Harmon said.

The father called deputies late Saturday afternoon and told them he attacked a man caught trying to sexually assault his daughter, Harmon said. The father was distraught and asked for medical care for Flores, investigators said.

The incident happened near a barn in Mt. Olive where some horses were being kept. The adults were shoeing a horse and the girl and her brother had been sent to feed chickens.

The children's grandfather said the boy later came back and said his sister had been taken away by a man. Her father then went out to look for her, the grandfather said.

Investigators said the father went to look for his daughter and called out her name. He then heard her screaming for help, officials said.

The father found both his daughter and Flores partially naked, investigators said.

"In the course of trying to get her away from him, and protect her, he struck the subject several times in the head and the subject died," Harmon said.

Detectives said Flores' pants and underwear were down when paramedics arrived.

Harmon said that all the evidence supported what the father told them happened. He said the father was very remorseful and did not intend to kill Flores.

"Despite the other factors involved, this is still a homicide investigation," he said.

Harmon said a grand jury will decide what, if any, charges the father will face.

"Sheriff Harmon made the right decision in not arresting the father at the time of the incident," Lavaca County District Attorney Heather McMinn said.

The ranch, which is near Shiner, is about 130 miles west of Houston. Killings are rare in rural Lavaca County. Harmon said his office has only investigated six in his eight years as sheriff.