A Dallas man faces multiple charges after Galveston police found him in a hotel room with a missing 12-year-old girl on January 30.
Graham Dunn, 27, was charged with aggravated kidnapping with sexual assault and two counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child.
Police say Dunn allegedly lured the victim online before the in-person encounter.
The girl left her home around 7 p.m. to walk her dog near 11 Mile Road. Ninety minutes later, when the dog returned alone without a collar or leash, her family contacted the authorities.
Police tracked the child’s phone to the Galveston Beach Hotel on Seawall Boulevard. Hotel surveillance footage allegedly showed her entering a room with Dunn.
The victim told investigators that Dunn forced her into his car and pulled her hair to prevent escape.
At the hotel, she said he gave her two pills that made her feel “woozy.”
She reported that Dunn allegedly recorded her and touched her inappropriately.
Officers forced entry to the room after Dunn refused to open the door fully.
Police found Dunn wearing only boxers with the girl on a bed. The child received medical evaluation at UTMB Galveston’s emergency room.
Galveston Police Chief Doug Balli defended the victim’s family at Thursday’s press conference.
“I want to be very clear about this. This family, this victim did nothing wrong,” Balli said.”This is not a case of poor parenting. This is not a case of where any fault at all should lie upon the victim and the family. They did everything right.”
Balli emphasized that community safety remains intact. “Galveston is a safe community. You should be able to walk your dog. A child should be able to ride their bike, and we should be able to go outside and enjoy it.”
Criminal District Attorney Kenneth Cusick expressed outrage over the allegations.
“I can tell you right now, justice has arrived, and this man will get the full measure of justice,” Cusick said. “I’ve been a prosecutor for 37 years, and this is one of the most disgusting situations I’ve heard of.”
Police described Dunn as a serial sexual offender facing accusations in Texas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, and North Carolina.
Investigators said he has fled other states to avoid court proceedings, and he “continues to offend even while out on bond and probation.”
His bond was set at $500,000 for the kidnapping charge. No bonds were set for the two sexual assault charges. Prosecutors plan to appeal the bond decision and seek “no bond” on all charges.
Chief Balli urged parents to monitor children’s social media use and disable location services on apps. He stressed the importance of knowing who children interact with online. At a press conference, Bali speculated that Dunn used social media to target his victims.