A man is in custody, charged with voyeurism and criminal trespass involving minors, following an investigation by Ferris city officials.
FERRIS, Texas — A man is in custody following an investigation into alleged voyeurism involving a Ferris family, including minors, according to city officials.
The City of Ferris says Cristian Ivan Ceballos Vega was arrested Thursday by Ferris Department of Public Safety officers on warrants issued by an Ellis County magistrate.
Ceballos Vega is charged with voyeurism and criminal trespass. Voyerurism is watching other people engaged in intimate behaviors, such as undressing, or other actions private in nature.
He is accused of unlawfully entering private residential property, looking into a home without consent, and observing people inside where they had a reasonable expectation of privacy, city officials said in a news release. The voyeurism charge alleges the conduct was sexual in nature and carried out for his own sexual gratification. Officials say minor victims are involved.
“This is not simply an allegation that someone stepped onto private property,” said City Manager Dr. Brooks Williams. “The allegations in these warrants involve an invasion of privacy inside a family’s home, conduct alleged to be sexual in nature, and juvenile victims. That is serious. That is disturbing.”
Williams says officers responded to the initial call, conducted an investigation, developed probable cause, and worked with law enforcement partners to obtain the warrants and make the arrest.
The arrest was part of a joint effort involving the Ferris Department of Public Safety, Texas Department of Public Safety, U.S. Marshals Service, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the release states.
City officials also confirmed through ICE that Ceballos Vega does not have lawful immigration status in the United States. They emphasized that his immigration status is being handled at the federal level and is separate from the state criminal charges.
Officials say they are not releasing any identifying information about the victims, including names, ages, or details that could reveal their identities.
Authorities add that additional reported incidents have come to light during the investigation that may be related but are not part of the current charges. The Ferris Department of Public Safety says it is continuing to review that information.
Anyone who believes they may have been a victim or has information related to the case is urged to contact Ferris DPS.