According to a criminal complaint on file at Harris County District court, the goings-on at Mario Aguilar's house on Sarah's Lane were as horrific as the postindustrial east Houston/Northshore neighborhood in which it stands is godforsaken.
The victim is a 20-year-old mentally disabled man we'll call Robert. Aguilar is his 58-year-old roommate and, as can be seen in his photo, more than a little menacing of appearance.
According to the complaint, earlier this month Robert told his caseworker with the Harris County Mental Health and Mental Retardation Authority that Aguilar had sexually assaulted him on March 12. He said that Aguilar had anally raped him.
Police spoke with Robert on March 16. He told the cops that he had been living with Aguilar since last June and that Aguilar had been forcing himself on a daily basis. On March 12, Robert told Aguilar that he was going to leave, and the news didn't sit well with the older man. He told Robert to go to the bathroom and drop his pants. Robert knew what that meant, and said he didn't want to do that. Aguilar allegedly became even more enraged and commanded his dog to bite Robert. The dog complied, and Robert would later show police what appeared to be dog bites on his arms. After that, Robert did as he was told, he said. Aguilar followed him into the bathroom and raped him, all while Robert was protesting that he didn't want to be raped.
According to KPRC, Aguilar operated a lawn service. Nicholas Montgomery, one of his employees, said he was "a good guy."
"He took care of me so there's nothing wrong with him. I mean, everybody's got something wrong with them," Montgomery told KPRC. Channel 2 also reported that Montgomery said that Robert was too friendly and thus an easy target for predators.
Aguilar has an extensive criminal history, with several cocaine/crack-related convictions dating back to 1993, including one in 2002 that landed him a 15-year prison term from then-judge Ted Poe. (A co-defendant in that case: the same Nicholas Montgomery quoted as saying Aguilar was a good guy.)
Police have since tacked on a cocaine charge since Aguilar's arrest in this case. He's also done jail time for prostitution and assault.
If convicted of sexual assault in this case, Aguilar could get two to 20 years in prison.
