He is charged with aggravated sexual assault of an elderly person, facing five to 99 years or life in prison.
Prosecutor Christina Roberts described the crime as “heinous, disgusting and mortifying.”
“He’s definitely one of the predators that the HPD sex crimes unit and DA’s office sex crimes unit was created to prosecute,” she said. “These are guys that, they don’t care. He went after the very group of people that needs the most protection.”
Roberts said investigators connected Ellis to the crime with fingerprint evidence. She said he is suspected in several other sexual assaults or assaults that occurred at senior living facilities in the Bellaire and West University areas over the past three to six months — all crimes with similar MOs. Roberts would not elaborate on how else Ellis is implicated, saying the investigation is ongoing.
The 21-year-old man has an extensive misdemeanor criminal record, with 13 trespassing convictions and busts for attempted theft, making a terroristic threat and making a harassing communication, as well as two convictions for resisting arrest. Roberts said Ellis appeared to be homeless, and was known to hang around the West U area.
When he was arrested Wednesday night, police say, he was apprehended at another senior living facility, and did not appear to be visiting anyone specific. He was trying to sneak in.