Odessa Man Accused Of Kidnapping, Exposing Himself To Young Girls
By: Dylan Brooks
Updated: March 4, 2013
ODESSA -- An Odessa man is accused of kidnapping two young girls and showing them his genitals.
Fernando Edward Thomas was arrested on March 1st.
Odessa Police say that Thomas, 25, kidnapped two 5-year-old girls as they played at an east Odessa apartment complex playground around 5:30 PM on March 1st.
The girls -- who aren't related -- were reported missing by one of the girls' mother, and witnesses reportedly told police that Thomas had been seen hanging around the girls before they disappeared.
Officers went door-to-door to search for Thomas and the girls.
Officers went up to an apartment that witnesses said belonged to Thomas and knocked on the door, but no one answered.
Police continued their search until they verified that the apartment door they'd knocked on had been Thomas'.
When officers returned to the apartment, they reportedly saw the two victims walking outside.
The girls reportedly told police that Thomas had told them to keep quiet when the officers knocked on the apartment door the first time.
Officers also determined that Thomas has flashed his genitals at the girls.
Officers went into the apartment and arrested Thomas around 6:10 PM on March 1st.
Now, Thomas is charged with two counts of felony kidnapping and two counts of felony indecency with a child by exposure.
As of Monday evening, Thomas was being held in the Ector County Law Enforcement Center on $80,000 bond.
Fernando Edward Thomas was arrested on March 1st.
Odessa Police say that Thomas, 25, kidnapped two 5-year-old girls as they played at an east Odessa apartment complex playground around 5:30 PM on March 1st.
The girls -- who aren't related -- were reported missing by one of the girls' mother, and witnesses reportedly told police that Thomas had been seen hanging around the girls before they disappeared.
Officers went door-to-door to search for Thomas and the girls.
Officers went up to an apartment that witnesses said belonged to Thomas and knocked on the door, but no one answered.
Police continued their search until they verified that the apartment door they'd knocked on had been Thomas'.
When officers returned to the apartment, they reportedly saw the two victims walking outside.
The girls reportedly told police that Thomas had told them to keep quiet when the officers knocked on the apartment door the first time.
Officers also determined that Thomas has flashed his genitals at the girls.
Officers went into the apartment and arrested Thomas around 6:10 PM on March 1st.
Now, Thomas is charged with two counts of felony kidnapping and two counts of felony indecency with a child by exposure.
As of Monday evening, Thomas was being held in the Ector County Law Enforcement Center on $80,000 bond.
