Man Charged in Bus Abductions Pleads Guilty

Rather than stand trial, Raul Aragonez, Jr. pled guilty to aggravated kidnapping and continuous sexual abuse of a child in the case of two Killeen girls who were kidnapped and raped as they walked to school bus stops.

Aragonez was sentenced to serve two life sentences concurrently. He has been held in the Bell County Jail since his arrest.

At the time of his indictment, Aragonez was a sergeant in the 1st Cavalry Division.

One victim, aged 11, was forced into small black two-door car at approximately 6:30 a.m. on October 18, 2010, driven to another location, and sexually assaulted. She was later released near the area where she had been taken. The other victim, 9 years old, was taken near York Avenue and Murphy Street on December 10, 2010, and later found near Maxdale and Reese Creek Road.

Aragonez was arrested December 12, 2010 when officers noticed he was behaving suspiciously during a traffic stop and his car matched the description of the vehicle linked to the abductions. He was arrested after a records-check revealed that he had an outstanding DWI warrant in Tarrant County.

The December 10 victim later identified Aragonez in a photo lineup and DNA evidence linked him to the attacks.