Ex-motel manager may be serial child predator

AUSTIN, Texas (KXAN) -- New details are coming out Thursday about an Austin motel manager accused of sexually assaulting children.

Police now believe they're dealing with a serial child predator.

Police have seized Douglas Ward's computer, and they've taken two young boys' accounts of threats and abuse.

Ward managed the Budget Lodge near I-35 and Rundberg Lane, where he lived and worked for the last two and a half years.

The owner, who lives in California, told KXAN Austin News in an exclusive telephone interview when he heard the news two days ago that Ward was being investigated as a pedophile, he was shocked.

Budget Lodge owner Larry Hall said he had no reason to believe Ward would be a threat to children.

"I am blown away. Doug is... No red flags whatsoever," said Hall.

Ward had no criminal background. His boss even goes on to say Ward was a model employee.

"He's worked under some very difficult conditions, with the drug problem in the immediate area and worked very closely with the police," said Hall.

KXAN Austin News interviewed Ward last December, and he said he was working hard to clean up the motel.

"Keeping the street scum off of the property," said Ward.

Police said Ward may have legitimately wanted to crack down on some crimes at the motel, saying it is not uncommon for pedophiles to try to justify their actions.

"They are just looking for the thrill of the sex and controlling the child. They don't equate it with crime," said Austin Police Department Sgt. Brian Loyd.

One of the alleged victims reported Ward performed oral sex on him. Both said Ward paid them to take pictures of their genitals and said Ward had photos of a half dozen other boys on his computer.

Police have seized Ward's computer and will soon begin looking for those images.

The boys also told authorities Ward showed them bloody pictures of boys and threatened to kill them. He was trying to instill fear as a control method.

But unless those pictures are found, Hall said he's giving Ward the benefit of the doubt.

"I believe we are supposed to be innocent until proven guilty, and nothing like that has happened. He has charges against him," said Hall.

Ward is facing six different charges, including aggravated sexual assault of a child. If those photos are found, police said he will be facing several more.

 

Man charged with indecency with children

Ward has been charged with sexually assaulting two boys, and Austin police believe there may be other young victims.

Ward was arrested for sexually assaulting a child. A 10-year-old victim told police that Ward paid him $90 to keep quiet about the incident.

According to an arrest warrant, the boy had been staying at the motel with his mother when Ward forced the child to have oral sex with him. Ward also took pictures of the boy's genitals.

"When the 10-year-old made the original outcry to the parent, he told the parent about his 12 year old friend," said Loyd.

Ward is suspected of molesting the boy's 12-year-old friend.

Police said Ward gave the boys money and said he would kill them if they told on him.

"We filed retaliation charges, because the children said they were threatened," Loyd said.

Police said Ward offered the 12-year-old victim $90 to take five pictures of himself with a digital camera. Though Ward wanted to take the pictures, the boy would not let him. So the 10- and 12-year-old boys went into Ward's bathroom, and the younger boy showed his friend how to take the pictures.

The boys took pictures of their middle parts, according to Ward's arrest warrant. The 12-year-old pulled down his boxer shorts and took two pictures of his penis, and afterwards he said he felt "kind of nasty." The boys then gave Ward the camera, and he downloaded the pictures and paid the boys $90.

The warrant stated that Ward showed his victims the pictures of six other boys' private parts on his office computer, and those boys were 12 or younger. Ward then showed the 10- and 12-year-old victims pictures of other boys who were lying on their backs with blood on them. Ward told the boys if they "snitched on him," he would choke them to death.

The 12-year-old told police that Ward said he wanted to take more pictures of them in a tight bathing suit. The 12-year-old refused, but the 10-year-old did as he was told. The 12-year-old witnessed Ward rubbing his friend's leg and middle part, and then tried to touch him under his clothes, but his friend refused.

Police said the abuse has occurred since March, and Ward is "probably experienced as a pedophile," but officials would not expand on that statement.

Police said the children called Ward "Doug."

Ward sits in jail, facing six charges to include aggravated sexual assault of a child, retaliation, indecency with a child and other crimes against children.

The Austin Police Department is looking for other young victims, particularly boys, who may have stayed at the motel. If you have any information in this case, call APD's Sex Crimes Tip Line at (512) 974-5095.