UPDATE: Montgomery County Sheriff's Office Arrests Suspect for Attempted Kidnapping in Magnolia

MAGNOLIA, TX -- UPDATE: The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office has received numerous tips and leads concerning Mr. Deleon's arrest. Detectives with the Homicide / Violent Crimes Unit are actively investigating the case, including newly received information. Currently, no additional charges have been filed with the District Attorney’s Office, but the investigation remains ongoing.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office encourages anyone with information about this case, or who has concerns regarding their children’s interactions with Mr. Deleon, to please contact the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office at (936) 760-5876, and reference case number 25A036393.

On February 5, 2025, at about 3:42 PM, Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office District 4 Deputies responded to a suspicious vehicle call in the 19400 block of Hickory Lane.

A concerned citizen reported witnessing an alarming incident while following a school bus as it dropped off an 11-year-old girl. The reportee observed a male passenger exit the passenger side of a slowly moving Ford F-150, cross the street rapidly, and attempt to engage the child in conversation. The child, visibly upset, immediately ran toward her home.

The reportee, seeing the child in distress, yelled out to the suspect, at which point the male got back into the vehicle and sped off. Acting swiftly, the reportee followed the suspect vehicle and was able to provide law enforcement with the license plate number.

Deputies traced the vehicle to its registered address and made contact with the suspect who they identified as Jose Deleon 33 years of age. Following a thorough investigation, the male was taken into custody and charged with Attempted Kidnapping.
“Nothing is more important than the safety of our children. Thanks to an alert citizen and fast-acting deputies, this suspect is behind bars. I encourage parents to talk to their children about safety awareness and remind everyone if you see something, say something. ”-Sheriff Wesley Doolittle

“This case is still in the investigative stages, and Mr. DeLeon's presumption of innocence remains. We encourage those with any additional information to contact the Sheriff's Office. We are always grateful for the assistance of our alert and attentive citizens, and we are particularly thankful for the continued excellent work of the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office.”-District Attorney Brett Ligon