Tyler man charged with molesting young boy over six-year period

A 28-year-old Tyler man is accused of sexually abusing a young boy over a six-year period.

Omar Huerta was charged on Jan. 7 with continuous sexual abuse of a child under age 14, the Tyler Morning Telegraph reported. He was booked into Smith County Jail with bond set at $250,000.

According to an arrest warrant affidavit obtained by the newspaper, the boy, now 16, told police in November that the molestation began when he was about 6 or 7 years old and continued until he was 11 or 12. He said Huerta performed oral sex on him and touched their genitals together.

The boy’s mother was not made aware of the abuse until recently as the teen became depressed and ashamed, the affidavit said.

When interviewed by authorities, Huerta said he felt as though he were in a “boyfriend relationship” with the child and became inappropriately attached, the affidavit said. He said the oral sex occurred several times, that he masturbated the boy and that the activity felt normal to him.