A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer accused of intentionally ramming his car into a Mexican construction worker in Houston turned himself in Monday, his attorney confirmed. Mario Alberto Morales, 33, faces a felony charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon for striking Miguel Parra Hernandez, 48, with an unmarked SUV on Oct. 10.
A grand jury indicted Morales on Friday. During his court appearance Monday, bond was set at $30,000. Prosecutors had sought $75,000. Morales is one of a few federal officers to face criminal charges for actions taken during the Trump administration's immigration crackdown.
ICE maintains that Parra Hernandez ran in front of Morales' vehicle. However, prosecutors stated that surveillance video contradicts this account, showing Morales' vehicle driving over a median and hitting Parra Hernandez as he fled. Parra Hernandez sustained a broken leg and is recovering in federal custody at a rehabilitation facility, according to Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare.
Morales' attorney, David Lindenmuth, described his client as "truly a good man" who did not commit a crime. Morales had been an ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations officer for just over a year, according to Lindenmuth. He previously served in the Army and unsuccessfully ran for Congress this year. Court records show Morales was charged with a misdemeanor in 2013 for stealing DVDs, but those charges were dismissed following a plea deal and a $270 fine.