Former Precinct 6 sergeant accused of raping woman at Galena Park hotel

HOUSTON – A former Precinct 6 sergeant has been charged with sexual assault, according to court documents.

Edward Joe Mata, 49, is accused of raping a woman at a Galena Park hotel last year.

Court records indicate Mata and the woman met through mutual friends and began texting back and forth. The messaging turned sexual and they agreed to meet at a Galena Park hotel in the 2500 block of Clinton Drive on Oct. 29.

The woman told authorities that when she arrived at the hotel, the door was unlocked, so she entered the room.

She and Mata sat on a couch and started talking. She said she could smell alcohol on his breath, according to court records. She also said Mata was wearing his official uniform.

The woman said Mata "continually put her hand on his leg which made her feel uncomfortable," according to court records.

She said she asked him to stop, but he continued and suddenly grabbed her by the hair and yanked her head back, court records indicate. Mata then put his mouth over hers, to prevent her from screaming, the woman told authorities.

Mata then threw her on the couch face down and spread her legs apart, according to court documents.

He then pinned her arms with one hand and took her clothes off with the other, according to court records.

He then raped the woman, court records indicate.

During the rape, the woman told authorities she asked Mata to stop, but he told her that she would be OK, according to court records.

The woman told authorities that she was able to leave the hotel when Mata fell asleep.

Mata, in a voluntary statement to authorities, said he met the woman through social events and they began flirty conversations through text messages. He said they agreed to meet at the Regency Inn. He told investigators that when they got to the hotel, they both took off their clothes, began to kiss on the bed and then had consensual sex in the room. He said they both fell asleep and the woman left in the morning. He provided a swab for his DNA.

Lab reports indicate that Mata's DNA could not be excluded from vaginal swabs taken during the woman's sexual assault kit.

Mata has not been employed with the precinct since Feb. 28.


Recommended Videos