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Ex-officer sentenced for official oppression
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By Lucretia Cardenas
A former Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office warrants investigator is serving 30 days in jail and one year of deferred adjudication after pleading guilty to official oppression.
Monte Morast, 52, agreed to the terms Wednesday in the 284th state District Court and was booked into the Montgomery County Jail that afternoon.
The case against Morast stems from a March 2007 incident involving a student from a private school in Conroe. Morast was indicted on charges of official oppression and unlawful restraint of a child in January 2008. The Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office investigated a complaint alleging Morast allowed jail inmates to make an Excel Academy student take off his clothes while on a jail tour.
Morast, who served more than 10 years with the Sheriff’s Office, was fired following the indictment.
“Monte was an outstanding police officer who took time out of his personal life to help kids who were having problems,” said Stephen Jackson, Morast’s attorney. “He made a mistake trying to do a good thing and help a young man better his life.”
With a year in deferred adjudication and jail time, Morast’s sentence is nearly the maximum for the Class A misdemeanor, which is punishable by up to a year in prison.
“Based on the evidence and the circumstances, our office felt like this was an appropriate resolution,” said Phil Grant, first assistant district attorney for Montgomery County.
Prior to moving to Montgomery County in 1996, Morast served more than 20 years in the U.S. Army as a military police officer and criminal investigator. In 2003, Morast announced his candidacy in the Montgomery County sheriff’s race. He withdrew his name when Sheriff Guy Williams decided to run for re-election. Instead, Morast sought a seat on the Montgomery County Hospital District board but lost.
Ricardo Gersor Euceda, 25, of Conroe, is facing charges of aggravated sexual assault of a child, a first-degree felony punishable by life or five to 99 years in prison. Euceda allegedly molested a girl under the age of 14 in December 2006.
Viet Van Ho, 35, of Orlando, Texas, faces charges of aggravated robbery, a first-degree felony. Ho allegedly threatened a man with a firearm while stealing property in May 2004.
Joshua Alton Lewis, 18, of Magnolia, faces two charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, a second-degree felony punishable by two to 20 years in prison. According to his indictment, Lewis allegedly shot a man and injured another March 14.
Conroe residents Fidel Antonio Martinez, 22; Oscar Alberto Martinez, 26; and Jose F. Martinez face charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. According to their indictments, the three men allegedly hit a woman with a bat April 5.
Conroe residents Geoffrey Tyler Wood, 26, and Stephen Craig Wood, 67, were re-indicted on charges of aggregate theft, a first-degree felony, stemming from an August 2008 incident. The men allegedly stole more than $200,000 in cash from nine people and 12 vehicles.
Monte Morast, 52, agreed to the terms Wednesday in the 284th state District Court and was booked into the Montgomery County Jail that afternoon.
The case against Morast stems from a March 2007 incident involving a student from a private school in Conroe. Morast was indicted on charges of official oppression and unlawful restraint of a child in January 2008. The Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office investigated a complaint alleging Morast allowed jail inmates to make an Excel Academy student take off his clothes while on a jail tour.
Morast, who served more than 10 years with the Sheriff’s Office, was fired following the indictment.
“Monte was an outstanding police officer who took time out of his personal life to help kids who were having problems,” said Stephen Jackson, Morast’s attorney. “He made a mistake trying to do a good thing and help a young man better his life.”
With a year in deferred adjudication and jail time, Morast’s sentence is nearly the maximum for the Class A misdemeanor, which is punishable by up to a year in prison.
“Based on the evidence and the circumstances, our office felt like this was an appropriate resolution,” said Phil Grant, first assistant district attorney for Montgomery County.
Prior to moving to Montgomery County in 1996, Morast served more than 20 years in the U.S. Army as a military police officer and criminal investigator. In 2003, Morast announced his candidacy in the Montgomery County sheriff’s race. He withdrew his name when Sheriff Guy Williams decided to run for re-election. Instead, Morast sought a seat on the Montgomery County Hospital District board but lost.
Weekly indictments
Ricardo Gersor Euceda, 25, of Conroe, is facing charges of aggravated sexual assault of a child, a first-degree felony punishable by life or five to 99 years in prison. Euceda allegedly molested a girl under the age of 14 in December 2006.
Viet Van Ho, 35, of Orlando, Texas, faces charges of aggravated robbery, a first-degree felony. Ho allegedly threatened a man with a firearm while stealing property in May 2004.
Joshua Alton Lewis, 18, of Magnolia, faces two charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, a second-degree felony punishable by two to 20 years in prison. According to his indictment, Lewis allegedly shot a man and injured another March 14.
Conroe residents Fidel Antonio Martinez, 22; Oscar Alberto Martinez, 26; and Jose F. Martinez face charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. According to their indictments, the three men allegedly hit a woman with a bat April 5.
Conroe residents Geoffrey Tyler Wood, 26, and Stephen Craig Wood, 67, were re-indicted on charges of aggregate theft, a first-degree felony, stemming from an August 2008 incident. The men allegedly stole more than $200,000 in cash from nine people and 12 vehicles.
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Reader Comments
concerned driver wrote on Apr 28, 2009 7:58 AM:
" By no standard I wouldn't condone this guy's actions for what he allowed to happen but why would the parents allow their private school's student to be involved in a jail tour? Was that a necessary part of his curriculum? I believe that was a bad parental decision as well unless they were present during the tour also. "
smokinjoe wrote on Apr 28, 2009 8:14 AM:
" concerned driver
I'm guessing he was involved in the jail tour as a deterrent to crime. "
I'm guessing he was involved in the jail tour as a deterrent to crime. "
TransplantedTexan wrote on Apr 28, 2009 8:46 AM:
" Am I missing something to this story? "Morast allowed jail inmates to make an Excel Academy student take off his clothes while on a jail tour." Then his attorney says "He made a mistake trying to do a good thing and help a young man better his life". How is this suppose to better a persons life? "
Benevolus wrote on Apr 28, 2009 10:56 AM:
" A quick google search shows that the Excel Academy was basically a boading scool for children with behavioral or substance abuse problems. So, with that context, the statement by the attorney that Morast was "trying to help a young man better his life" makes some sense, in a sort of "scared straight" sort of way. Does that make it right? No, but you can at least see Morast's idea.
Perhaps some contextual reporting in the article would have shed some light to the readers. "
Perhaps some contextual reporting in the article would have shed some light to the readers. "
Leigh wrote on Apr 28, 2009 11:13 AM:
" Excell (which has since gone out of business) served as legal guardians of all kids enrolled there; most of those kids were repeat drug offenders or had other similar behavioral issues. Excell was the last chance for parents trying to keep kids out of jail and off the streets. They regularly (if unofficially) sent kids over to the jail to be "scared straight". It was common knowledge in the Sheriff's Department and at the school. Did things get out of hand this time? I don't know. But for those of you asking why the boy was there, where his parents were, etc., that's a little bit of context. "
42709 wrote on Apr 28, 2009 12:40 PM:
" My apology to the Morast family that they should have to endure this front page "Railroad job". Where are his former "fellow officers" of the fine Mo. County Sheriff's office? Why is this family having to go through this kind of humiliation for over two years, when all the man was doing was what was requested by the parents and school?. When the story first broke in 2007, the parents and the school had requested a tour of the jail to let the child see first hand what it would be like to be in jail.
If only our daughter had been given that opportunity, we may not be in the "Never Ending Story" of what a child on drugs can put a family through. Having to go through what any other criminal would go through when booked into jail, might have made her think about the consequences of bad choices. If Mr. Morast had not given hours of his professional and personal time to try and help her, she would not be alive today. We will always be in his debt. Many times we called upon him to give us guidance and direction to help her, never once did he say no. Mr. Morast was a dedicated public servant and committed to helping make a difference in someone's life.
What a shame this fine Christian family man is sitting in jail. Where is this "Officially Oppressed Child" today? Hopefully the experience made him think about his life and the experience set him on a better course. What of the school who helped with this ridiculous charge? Surely someone can give a truthful accounting of what actually happened.
Monte Morast did not make a mistake.....He just did his job and what was asked of him. He is not a "Scary person with a menacing grin". He is someone's husband and father and a TRUE friend of Conroe. Montgomery County Sheriff's office needs more men like him and the office needs to support one of their own. He actually MADE A DIFFERNCE in lives.......Can you say that you have? "
If only our daughter had been given that opportunity, we may not be in the "Never Ending Story" of what a child on drugs can put a family through. Having to go through what any other criminal would go through when booked into jail, might have made her think about the consequences of bad choices. If Mr. Morast had not given hours of his professional and personal time to try and help her, she would not be alive today. We will always be in his debt. Many times we called upon him to give us guidance and direction to help her, never once did he say no. Mr. Morast was a dedicated public servant and committed to helping make a difference in someone's life.
What a shame this fine Christian family man is sitting in jail. Where is this "Officially Oppressed Child" today? Hopefully the experience made him think about his life and the experience set him on a better course. What of the school who helped with this ridiculous charge? Surely someone can give a truthful accounting of what actually happened.
Monte Morast did not make a mistake.....He just did his job and what was asked of him. He is not a "Scary person with a menacing grin". He is someone's husband and father and a TRUE friend of Conroe. Montgomery County Sheriff's office needs more men like him and the office needs to support one of their own. He actually MADE A DIFFERNCE in lives.......Can you say that you have? "
onedayatatime wrote on Apr 28, 2009 1:39 PM:
" This guy is a sicko, period. Who knows what dark thoughts he harbors for children. We might have seen but a peek. He should be put on the sexual predators list. If he isn't, then why not? "
pprwrtr wrote on Apr 28, 2009 1:41 PM:
" If the school for juvenile delinquents was in on this, why wasn't this brought up in court--or was it? There is a lot to this story that isn't told, I suspect. If the jury convicted him, how sure were they that he alone did this? You can scare a person without making him strip. That is undermining a person's dignity. At the least, this was a gross lack of common sense; at the most, it is perversion. It's hard to tell with just the info in this article. If he was wrongfully accused, the question is "what am I supposed to learn from this?" There's always a lesson in everything (especially traumatic things) that happens to a person. What really counts is not what happens to you, but how you respond (though, word, and deed) to what happens, and recognizing the lesson/message the situation is bringing you. "
devilmaytell wrote on Apr 28, 2009 2:26 PM:
" He pled guilty, innocent people don't do that. He knows he did something wrong and that there was damning evidence or he wouldn't have pled. "
pprwrtr wrote on Apr 28, 2009 2:38 PM:
" devilmaytell--
He may have pled guilty because of the silly "justice" game of getting less time if you do. Or he may have pled guilty because he did it. I don't know. I can't figure out all these men (and a few women, but not near as many) who have been decent citizens for many, many years and done good things. Then, they just lose it and do something utterly stupid that makes no sense to anyone. It's so shocking. Sometimes, I think the whole world is going too fast for people to cope very well anymore. Whatever causes this needs to be investigated and studied. What a good idea for a master's thesis in psychology! "
He may have pled guilty because of the silly "justice" game of getting less time if you do. Or he may have pled guilty because he did it. I don't know. I can't figure out all these men (and a few women, but not near as many) who have been decent citizens for many, many years and done good things. Then, they just lose it and do something utterly stupid that makes no sense to anyone. It's so shocking. Sometimes, I think the whole world is going too fast for people to cope very well anymore. Whatever causes this needs to be investigated and studied. What a good idea for a master's thesis in psychology! "
JD Crew wrote on Apr 28, 2009 2:57 PM:
" 42709 ---are you kidding me the man abused his position, What this article does not say is that he slammed the young boy into the ground, took him to the county Jail, after he allowed the inmates to remove his clothing he then allowed them to smear vasaline on his backside.
its not the first time he has abused his power either, he is NOT a true friend of Conroe, he is one of the Good ole boys and finally he is paying a small price for his actions and his abuse of power. its long over due. "
its not the first time he has abused his power either, he is NOT a true friend of Conroe, he is one of the Good ole boys and finally he is paying a small price for his actions and his abuse of power. its long over due. "
new yorker wrote on Apr 28, 2009 3:20 PM:
" Well said JD. This "outstanding police officer" should have gone to prison for terrorizing this kid. The only bright spot is he is no longer in law enforcement. Hey JD did you notice who his lawyer is? Seems to me this is a conflict of interest where Jason is concerned. "
L Concern wrote on Apr 28, 2009 3:35 PM:
" well, i am going to stay away from the headliner on this one, most on here already know how i feel, it goes without saying and i dont want to stir up the PoPo nest.
however, if Geoffrey Tyler Wood and Stephen Craig Wood allegedly stole more than $200,000 in cash from nine people and 12 vehicles, thats roughly 16,500 dollars per per person and vehicle per inccident, thats damned good money, hey whiskey-a-go-go (aka burbon boy), maybe we have found you a new gig. "
however, if Geoffrey Tyler Wood and Stephen Craig Wood allegedly stole more than $200,000 in cash from nine people and 12 vehicles, thats roughly 16,500 dollars per per person and vehicle per inccident, thats damned good money, hey whiskey-a-go-go (aka burbon boy), maybe we have found you a new gig. "
JD Crew wrote on Apr 28, 2009 5:13 PM:
" hey New Yorker-- yeah I noticed who his defence attorney was, it is a huge conflict of interest as far as Jason is concerned. but as you said this "fine example of law enforcement" is no longer able to terrorize and abuse his position as he has done in the past. and it is about time. "
tired of rino's like sadler wrote on Apr 28, 2009 6:53 PM:
" Ahhhhhh another example of the wonderful MCSD that Sheriff 0.257% claims is overwhelming supported to the citizens at his fundraiser. Remember the event that Yukon Sadler was the speaker at and his main supporter? Time for Sheriff 0.257% to go with Yukon and his cronies. "
leigh wrote on Apr 28, 2009 10:36 PM:
" Why did he plead out? BECAUSE HE COULDN'T AFFORD TO CONTINUE PAYING AN ATTORNEY. Had he continued to fight, it would have cost him another $20k just for the next round of attorney's fees. Seen a cop's paycheck lately??? Why do you think he was working an extra job in the first place?
Do you really believe there are no innocent people in jail? Get serious. The State of Texas has actually executed "criminals" who were later exonerated. Post mortem.
None of us knows what really happened in that jail. But the whole point of "scared straight" is that they really have to BE SCARED so that it will make an impact. "
Do you really believe there are no innocent people in jail? Get serious. The State of Texas has actually executed "criminals" who were later exonerated. Post mortem.
None of us knows what really happened in that jail. But the whole point of "scared straight" is that they really have to BE SCARED so that it will make an impact. "
Fishman wrote on Apr 29, 2009 1:35 AM:
" Well at least poor mistreated Mr. Morast doesn`t have to spend the year in prison like the average citizen would. It pays to be a cop when you commit any crime. "
seacat162 wrote on Apr 29, 2009 6:43 AM:
" That's Mongomery County for you. And how many more perverts are on the side of the Law. Yea Right. "
Whiskyecho wrote on Apr 29, 2009 7:19 AM:
" L Concern wrote on Apr 28, 2009 3:35 PM:
"..whiskey..burbon.. "
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I'd guess that some isd night school, somewhere, teaches "spelling" for those that can't - give it a try, oh ignorant one.. maybe an "English as a Second Language" class for those trying for citizenship would do.. "
"..whiskey..burbon.. "
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I'd guess that some isd night school, somewhere, teaches "spelling" for those that can't - give it a try, oh ignorant one.. maybe an "English as a Second Language" class for those trying for citizenship would do.. "
mls123 wrote on Apr 29, 2009 8:01 AM:
" I believe some of these kids need to be scared into turning their life around. Also I believe the parents should take off their belts and use them on their kids some times and that would also change the kids outlook on life if they knew their was a price to pay. "
wolftone1916 wrote on Apr 29, 2009 8:50 AM:
" “Monte was an outstanding police officer who took time out of his personal life to help kids who were having problems,” said Stephen Jackson, Morast’s attorney. “He made a mistake trying to do a good thing and help a young man better his life.”
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Cop-out bullcrap! How is undressing a young male in front of a bunch of prisoners helping him? Cops like these and prison guards like these make other cops and prison guards look bad. "
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Cop-out bullcrap! How is undressing a young male in front of a bunch of prisoners helping him? Cops like these and prison guards like these make other cops and prison guards look bad. "
ciudadconroe wrote on Apr 29, 2009 1:56 PM:
" talk about two peas in a pod. before my wife was my wife she tried to afford "a certain attorney". trying to figure out how to pay him, and talking to him on instant messenger around midnight, he asked her to come over to his house because he was lonely. I think the 2 axx clowns deserve each other. "
ciudadconroe wrote on Apr 29, 2009 1:59 PM:
" talk about two peas in a pod. before my wife was my wife she tried to afford "a certain attorney". trying to figure out how to pay him, and talking to him on instant messenger around midnight, he asked her to come over to his house because he was lonely. (edit: she called me over to the computer to witness what he'd asked her.) I think the 2 axx clowns deserve each other. "
nicoleshelby wrote on Apr 29, 2009 10:42 PM:
" I don't like anyone messing with kids, especially with behavior that is "heinous" and perverted! This dude has some dark issues. This is soooooo bad cop! He has that sinister grin working for him. Creepy! Cops see so much "bad" some get really wacked in the head and become what they hate. The kids from Excel Academy are troubled teens, but that isn't an excuse to do what he did. "
nicoleshelby wrote on Apr 29, 2009 10:57 PM:
" Ciudad Conroe,
My 1st attorney was stupid. He didn't do a very good job. His legal secretary was my neighbor, and after I broke down in the office over my situation she got really emotionally involved and I found out she had been having an affair with my attorney for years. I guess guilt and shame got the best of her. I felt sorry for his wife. I wonder if she knew or did she board denial! The secretary quit. I was so disturbed by it all, it made things worse. I had other issues and had to get a different attorney. I couldn't stand to look at him anymore. Jerk. It was bad enough I had my drama, but then I got sucked into someone elses drama. It just traumatized me further. lol
Our world is sick! "
My 1st attorney was stupid. He didn't do a very good job. His legal secretary was my neighbor, and after I broke down in the office over my situation she got really emotionally involved and I found out she had been having an affair with my attorney for years. I guess guilt and shame got the best of her. I felt sorry for his wife. I wonder if she knew or did she board denial! The secretary quit. I was so disturbed by it all, it made things worse. I had other issues and had to get a different attorney. I couldn't stand to look at him anymore. Jerk. It was bad enough I had my drama, but then I got sucked into someone elses drama. It just traumatized me further. lol
Our world is sick! "
txjustice wrote on May 7, 2009 1:34 PM:
" It is interesting reading the comments here. First is that no one knows this person and make judgements on who he is by a couple paragraphs. This shows how the press can lead people around by not showing the entire facts of the case. When people do not have the entire facts of a situation then bad things happen. Such a case were the Salem witch trials. Become educated on the situation and do not base your opinions on one article.
I have followed this case. There was not an order by Mr. Morast to the inmates to have the kid stripped or Vaseline to be applied. When Mr. Morast saw this was going on the action was stopped. These actions were not sanctioned by Mr. Morast. The author's use of 'allowed' gives the connotation that Mr. Morast did sanction the actions, and fails to describe the whole situation. Again allowing the reader to jump to conclustions
As far as the sentence. This is reasonable for a plea bargain. There are normal citizens that with much worse crimes get probation only. So just because the max sentence is a year, and you have some sort of disrespect of law and law enforcement, does not mean this individual received preferential treatment. "
I have followed this case. There was not an order by Mr. Morast to the inmates to have the kid stripped or Vaseline to be applied. When Mr. Morast saw this was going on the action was stopped. These actions were not sanctioned by Mr. Morast. The author's use of 'allowed' gives the connotation that Mr. Morast did sanction the actions, and fails to describe the whole situation. Again allowing the reader to jump to conclustions
As far as the sentence. This is reasonable for a plea bargain. There are normal citizens that with much worse crimes get probation only. So just because the max sentence is a year, and you have some sort of disrespect of law and law enforcement, does not mean this individual received preferential treatment. "
Whiskyecho wrote on Apr 28, 2009 5:51 AM: