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Tickets are available for Fort Bend Cares' 15th annual "Road Trip" fundraiser, which is set for Feb. 1. For more information on the event, read the story inside today's edition on Page 2.
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Area religious leader charged with sex crimes
Wednesday Jan.8th
@ 6pm
Fort Bend / Southwest • Volume 44 • No. 73
By Landan Kuhlmann LKUHLMANN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM
A man described by authorities as an Islamic religious leader in Fort Bend County has been accused of using his position to commit sex crimes against children. During a news conference Monday morning, Fort Bend County Sheriff Troy Nehls said 59-yearold Mohamed Omar Ali was arrested Jan. 3 in the Houston area of Fort
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Ali
Bend County. Ali has been charged with three counts
of indecency with a child and one count of aggravated sexual assault of a child. Bond has been set at $25,000 for each indecency count and $50,000 for the sexual assault charge. However, police said an ICE deportation order has been set for Ali, meaning he will not be released from custody of the FBCSO. According to Nehls, the arrest stemmed from a joint investigation with the FBI’s Houston office
dating back to September. Ali has spent time as an Islamic religious leader called an Imam in several mosques around Fort Bend County and the Greater Houston area, according to the FBCSO. “We always want to make sure these children have a voice so we can bring justice to that child and allow them to move forward with their lives,” Detective Michael Alexander said. According to Alexander, FBSCO was
initially contacted by the FBI’s Houston office as well as some of the victims. Alexander said Ali’s alleged crimes in Fort Bend County date back to 2013. Though Ali was not officially employed by any particular mosque, he was called upon to lead prayers and teachings, according to police. Alexander said police believe Ali, who was fluent in
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The Stafford High School Marching Spartans band performs in the Sugar Bowl parade Dec. 31 in New Orleans. Thanks to community donations, the band was able to fund the trip to perform in the parade and during halftime of the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 1. (Photo courtesy of SMSD)
Notable names campaigning in runoff for District 28 seat By Landan Kuhlmann LKUHLMANN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM
As the race for a critical seat in the Texas House of Representatives nears its conclusion, prominent politicians have thrown their support behind each candidate in the upcoming runoff. Democrat Eliz Markowitz, the leading
SEE HD 28 PAGE 7
Stafford bands together for Sugar Bowl moment By Landan Kuhlmann LKUHLMANN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM
For many, New Year’s Day meant a day off from work and watching college football on TV. An area marching band, meanwhile, took part in the spectacle of the Sugar Bowl and brought 15 minutes of fame to their slice of Fort Bend County. The 234-member Stafford High School Marching Spartans band performed at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans during halftime of the Jan. 1 Sugar Bowl between the Georgia Bulldogs and Baylor Bears. They also got the chance to perform in the Sugar Bowl Parade on New Year's Eve and unfold
the giant American Flag during pregame. “I knew it was going to be amazing, but I didn’t grasp just how amazing it would be standing up there with 80,000 people watching,” junior clarinet player Philynn Dinh said. The Marching Spartans have taken home numerous honors from UIL competitions during director Rod Rodriguez’s 15 years at the school, but had never played on a stage like the Sugar Bowl. They were one of just eight bands hand-picked from around the nation to take part in the halftime performance. “It's no surprise that the Sugar Bowl chose
SEE SUGAR BOWL PAGE 5
The Stafford High School band got the opportunity to help unfold a giant American flag across the field during Sugar Bowl pregame festivities Jan. 1 at the MercedesBenz Superdome in New Orleans. (Photo courtesy of SMSD)
Dissent mounting on Rosenberg city council By Landan Kuhlmann LKUHLMANN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM
Markowitz
Gates
Simmering tensions on the Rosenberg City Council boiled over last month. During a contentious special meeting Dec. 10, the council voted 4-0 to censure Councilman Isaac Davila. The decision came in light of his proposition to make random drug and alcohol testing mandatory for all council members as well as a laundry list of alleged violations committed since his election in May 2018.
Previously struck down twice with minimal discussion, the drug-andalcohol measure passed during a regular meeting Dec. 3 – with the caveat of scheduling the tests before every meeting and Davila paying for them himself. A week later, the censure vote transpired. Mayor William Benton heavily criticized Davila at the special meeting Dec. 10, calling him disruptive to the council’s ability to get work done. “This is not the preferred way I would’ve
Benton
Davila
liked to have dealt with it, but I’m not sure how else to get through to you,” Benton said during the meeting to Davila, who
ran against him for mayor this year. “Every week you want to have ridiculous discussions instead of doing what you were elected
to do, which is represent the people of your district.” Davila cannot be let go from the council or anything similar by way of a censure, which is essentially a public reprimand. However, the lifelong Rosenberg resident believes there is an ulterior motive. “The reason they did it was to try to get me to back off and embarrass me in some way,” Davila
SEE ROSENBERG PAGE 6
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