Registered sex offender back in jail accused of trying to lure 12-year-old girl in Walmart

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — A registered sex offender is back in custody for allegedly attempting to lure a 12-year-old girl into a Walmart dressing room.

Seventy-six-year-old Paul Palacios is accused of enticing the child on May 30 at a Walmart located in the 4400 block of the North Freeway.

According to investigators, Palacios led the girl around the store, offering to buy her items before suggesting they enter the dressing room.

The girl became upset and informed her mother about the incident, prompting a call to the police.

Authorities clarified that the girl had no prior association with Palacios.

Palacios was initially released from jail on June 1 after a magistrate judge determined there wasn’t sufficient probable cause to detain him.

The judge cited missing information in court documents as the basis for the decision.

However, the Harris County District Attorney’s Office presented the case to a grand jury on Friday morning, resulting in Palacios being indicted on a charge of enticing a child.

The DA’s office emphasized that it always believed there was probable cause, stating that the information provided to the grand jury was the same as what the magistrate judge had earlier reviewed.

contacted the magistrate judge to inquire about the missing information that influenced the initial decision but has not yet received a response.