FERRIS, Texas — A man accused of unlawfully entering private property and secretly observing people inside a home, including minors, has been arrested following a joint investigation involving multiple law enforcement agencies, city officials announced Thursday.
According to the City of Ferris, Cristian Ivan Ceballos Vega was taken into custody by the Ferris Department of Public Safety under arrest warrants issued through the Ellis County magistrate system.
Authorities said the warrants charge Ceballos Vega with Voyeurism, listed in the warrant as a state jail felony, and Criminal Trespass, listed as a Class A misdemeanor.
According to sworn probable-cause affidavits, investigators allege Ceballos Vega unlawfully entered residential property in Ferris and looked into a home without consent while victims inside had a reasonable expectation of privacy.
The voyeurism warrant further alleges the conduct was sexual in nature and committed for sexual gratification. Officials confirmed juvenile victims are involved in the case.
City officials said they will not release identifying information related to the victims, including names, ages, addresses, school information, or family details.
“This is not simply an allegation that someone stepped onto private property,” said Brooks Williams, city manager for Ferris. “The allegations in these warrants involve an invasion of privacy inside a family’s home, conduct alleged to be sexual in nature, and juvenile victims.”
The arrest followed a joint task force investigation involving Ferris DPS, the Texas Department of Public Safety, the United States Marshals Service, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
John DeLeon, deputy city manager over public safety, said the agencies coordinated closely during the investigation.
Officials also stated that ICE confirmed Ceballos Vega is not lawfully present in the United States. City officials emphasized that immigration matters are separate from the state criminal charges outlined in the arrest warrants.
Investigators said additional reported incidents potentially connected to the case are also being reviewed.
Authorities are asking anyone who may have had contact with Ceballos Vega or believes they may have been a victim of similar conduct to contact the Ferris Department of Public Safety at 972-928-5592.
Officials noted that Ceballos Vega is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
