Moving company worker fondled, photographed Houston girl, 5, during job, police say

By: Crimesider Staff
Topics: Daily Blotter

A Houston moving company worker is accused of fondling and photographing a 5-year-old daughter while on the job

/ IStockPhoto

(CBS) HOUSTON - Prosecutors accuse moving company worker Justin Summers of fondling and photographing the 5-year-old daughter of a couple he was helping to move, CBS affiliate KHOU reports.

Summers, 24, is accused of approaching the girl last March, while she was playing a game in an upstairs bedroom of a West University Place home.

"An employee of the moving company, which was called 'A Better Tripp Moving and Storage,' had lifted up the juvenile child's skirt, had removed or pulled down her underpants and began photographing and, it turns out, actually began touching the child," said Officer Phil Clark, spokesman for the West University Place Police Department.

Allegations didn't come until this month when the girl's 7-year-old brother told his mother. Police said the boy was in the room and saw the crime happen.

Investigators said they obtained a search warrant for Summers' phone and found two videos showing the girl in her underwear. Prosecutors charged him with promoting child pornography and indecency with a child.

"I'm dumbfounded," said David Tripp, the owner of the moving company. "If these charges are legitimate charges, it's horrific."

Tripp said he knew Summers since he was in junior high school who passed through criminal background checks before he was hired. Summers' father was the company's operations manager.

"I feel horrible about it, if he's convicted," Tripp said.

Summers has been in "thousands of homes" since he was hired and quit his job a few weeks ago, Tripp said.

West University Police encourages anyone who knows about similar crimes to contact them, as they worry the suspect may have victimized other children.

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by angelofurnightmare July 2, 2012 10:27 AM EDT: Who in the world leaves their kids alone with a total stranger...really the moving guy should not have been alone with the kid...You never know who these monsters are and being an over protective parent will save your child from this...because to get the 5 yr old to cooperate and to get her panties off took more time than a child should be alone with a stranger; Reply to this comment

by FalseAccusations June 28, 2012 4:29 PM EDT

They're accusing him of doing this in front of a witness? The 7 year old brother was in the room? I find it impossible to believe that anyone smart enough to operate a mobile phone and use the built-in camera would be stupid enough to do something sexual in front of a witness. The girl in her underwear IS NOT the promotion of child pornography - that's a false charge unless the corrupt ploy against this man can justify charging every single parent who has ever photographed their child in underwear or diapers. Indecency with a child is a "tack-on" charge that wouldn't stick without the aforementioned false charge. Either the 7 year old has been coached, or he's lying.

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by sunset_m June 28, 2012 6:10 PM EDT: Let's forget the potential child witness for a moment. What is this person doing with any video of the little girl on his phone, let alone video of her in her underwear? I don't think he's related to the little girl (unless they forgot to mention it in the article) so it sounds like something went on that shouldn't have. It's up to the police and prosecutors to figure it out.


by resa89 June 29, 2012 8:22 AM EDT: The videos found corroborated with the 7yr old's story. If he was coached or lying, where did the videos come from? And comparing PARENTS taking candid pictures of their children in diapers or underwear, to a PERVERT taking pictures of a little girl is beyond my comprehension. I'm not sure how anyone could defend this piece of crap, I'm sure he did it more than once!