Convicted sexual assaulter at large after failing to appear for sentencing

AUSTIN, Texas - A man convicted of sexual assault is at large after he failed to appear for sentencing, says the Travis County District Attorney's Office.

The DA's office said on March 28, a Travis County jury convicted 56-year-old Hai Vo of aggravated sexual assault after a three-day trial. On March 29, Vo failed to appear for the punishment phase of his trial.

There is an active warrant for his arrest and law enforcement is actively seeking to apprehend him.

The DA's office says they had requested Vo be detained after the jury convicted him, but the request was denied.

"When a defendant knows that they are likely facing a significant amount of prison time, our concern is that the risk is heightened, that they may be a flight risk. That is why we requested that this defendant be remanded into custody," Travis County DA Jose Garza said.

Vo's punishment was assessed by the jury at 10 years to be served at the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

"To the family, I am so sorry that the family has to continue to wait for justice in this case. We're really grateful to them and to their cooperation that allowed us to secure this verdict. We're also incredibly grateful to our law enforcement partners, who helped us secure this outcome," Garza said. "If you know the whereabouts of the defendant, Mr. Vo in this case, we would ask that you report them to authorities, so that he can be arrested and begin to serve his sentence in prison."

Judge Bob Perkins presided over the case. He tells FOX 7 the defendant made all his previous court appearances, and there wasn't any indication he wouldn't come to the sentencing. 

As for the possibility of additional charges, Garza says the focus right now is finding the defendant, and they'll evaluate that later.

Vo's attorney says he doesn't have any comment. 

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According to an arrest affidavit, in January 2020, a 24-year-old disabled woman told her mother she had been sexually assaulted by someone she knew from their church. Her family had been at a Lunar New Year event at the church and the victim stayed behind to watch the end of the festival.

The mother told police her daughter later began asking church members for a ride home, at which point Vo overheard and offered to take her home, the affidavit says.

The victim told Vo she liked taking photos and asked Vo to take her photo as he was the church photographer. Vo declined to take the photo at the church and told the victim he had clothes and a very nice view at his home, says the affidavit.

Vo took her to his home, took photos of her, then touched her inappropriately while she was changing and sexually assaulted her. He also had the victim shower, then took her to get food before taking her home, says the affidavit.

Vo told police he had taken the victim to his house and encouraged her to change into various outfits before photographing her, but denied the assault, says the affidavit. He also told police he knew the victim was disabled.

A search warrant for his home uncovered the outfits and cameras the victim described to police as well as the room where she reported the assault had happened, according to the affidavit.