A former Texas 10 Most Wanted fugitive has been sentenced to 38 years in prison for sexually assaulting an 11-year-old girl who became pregnant.
Jose Miguel Zelaya-Ponce, a 22-year-old illegal alien from Honduras, received his sentence on January 13 in Harris County court, the Texas Department of Public Safety announced on Wednesday.
DNA testing confirmed Zelaya-Ponce fathered the young victim’s child.
The investigation began in July 2024 when Texas Rangers received a tip from Border Patrol about a possible human smuggling case in Sierra Blanca. Officers stopped a vehicle carrying a female driver, a male juvenile, and an 11-year-old pregnant girl.
During questioning, the driver admitted she was in the country illegally with her two sons. She identified her older son in Houston as Jose Miguel Zelaya-Ponce, who had impregnated the child.
Authorities arrested the driver for human smuggling of a minor under 18. They issued a warrant for Zelaya-Ponce’s arrest in Harris County.
In August 2024, Texas officials added Zelaya-Ponce to the state’s 10 Most Wanted Criminal Illegal Immigrants List. Special agents from the Texas Department of Public Safety’s Criminal Investigations Division captured him on August 23 in Houston.
Further investigation revealed the young victim had been living with Zelaya-Ponce in Houston. She experienced continuous sexual abuse during that time.
The case involved multiple law enforcement agencies, including Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Border Patrol, and the University of North Texas Center for Human Identification. Their collaborative work helped secure justice for the victim.
Texas’ 10 Most Wanted Program offers rewards for information leading to the arrest of dangerous fugitives. The Governor’s Public Safety Office funds the program through Texas Crime Stoppers.
State investigators work with local agencies to identify fugitives who pose the greatest threat to public safety. Current lists with photos are available on the DPS website.
