Man Arrested for Attempted Kidnapping of 11-Year-Old Girl in Montgomery County

A 33-year-old man was arrested on Wednesday, February 5, 2025, after attempting to engage an 11-year-old girl in conversation as she exited her school bus. Deputies from the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office District 4 responded to a suspicious vehicle call at approximately 3:42 p.m. in the 19400 block of Hickory Lane.

A concerned citizen, who had been following the school bus, witnessed a male passenger exit a slowly moving Ford F-150, cross the street quickly, and approach the child. The girl, appearing distressed, immediately ran toward her home. The witness shouted at the man, who then returned to the vehicle and sped away.

The reportee followed the suspect’s vehicle and provided deputies with a license plate number. Law enforcement traced the vehicle to its registered address, where they identified the suspect as 33-year-old Jose Deleon. After an investigation, deputies arrested Deleon and charged him with Attempted Kidnapping.

“Nothing is more important than the safety of our children. Thanks to an alert citizen and fast-acting deputies, this suspect is behind bars. I encourage parents to talk to their children about safety awareness and remind everyone if you see something, say something,” said Montgomery County Sheriff Wesley Doolittle.

“This case is still in the investigative stages, and Mr. DeLeon’s presumption of innocence remains. We encourage those with any additional information to contact the Sheriff’s Office. We are always grateful for the assistance of our alert and attentive citizens, and we are particularly thankful for the continued excellent work of the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office,” said District Attorney Brett Ligon in a statement.