This browser does not support the Video element.
Parents likely prevented more indecency, police say
The detective investigating a former North Texas medical assistant's alleged child sex crimes says more families have come forward with stories about close calls. He believes their interference prevented their children from becoming victims.
IRVING, Texas - More charges are possible in the case against a former medical assistant accused of luring young patients away from their parents and fondling them at a pediatric clinic.
Angel Nunez, 25, is already charged with two counts of indecency with a child.
Irving police said he took several patients at Little Spurs Pediatric to medical rooms away from their parents. Once inside the room, he claimed they needed a hernia exam or genitalia test and inappropriately touched them.
The department started investigating him after the pediatric facility filed a report with Child Protective Services.
"They saw some stuff that was outside of the policies and procedures. They had some concerns. They made a report to CPS," said Irving PD Det. Andrew Padrutt. "Right off the bat, we quickly identified that there were three victims."
The first two victims were 9 and 14 years old.
North Texas pediatrician’s assistant had sexual contact with multiple children, police say
Police say the pediatric clinic where he used to work contacted authorities after learning he allegedly molested a 14-year-old boy, claiming it was medical care.
A charge is unlikely to result from that third victim’s case.
"Their family is uncooperative. They’re just not wanting to come forward," Det. Padrutt said.
But since the news of the first three allegations broke, detectives said they’ve spoken to more parents whose children may have been close to becoming victims had they not intervened.
"We’ve noticed a trend of where there’s maybe not an offense but suspicious behavior where Nunez tried to get their child to go alone with them and when the parent insisted on coming with them, then he kind of changed tactics and said, ‘Oh well, that test isn’t necessary,’" Padrutt said. "And it was just very odd, right?"
Irving pediatric assistant who inappropriately touched boys showed 'pattern of behavior,' police say
The 25-year-old is not — and never has been — a physician. His duties were to take vitals. However, police say he used his position to inappropriately touch young boys. The most recent allegation involves a 9-year-old.
The department believes that parental intervention saved the children from becoming victims.
"You know, you can never be too careful with your kids. There’s nothing wrong with accompanying your kids, and you should accompany your kids with medical procedures. That stopped a lot of offenses, we believe," the detective said.
Irving police said Nunez saw roughly 600 male patients at Little Spurs Pediatric locations in Irving, Fort Worth, Arlington, and Grand Prairie while employed there from August 2023 to August 2024.
"We believe that there’s likely more victims," Padrutt said.