Wanted Grapevine Child Predator Suspected Of Crimes In Plano

GRAPEVINE (CBSDFW.COM) - The search for a man who is being called a child predator in North Texas has intensified. Police now say the man who made lewd comments to young girls in Grapevine may have also been seen at a Target store in Plano.

Before the lunch hour on Friday police in Plano released a short video of the man they're looking for. Officials with the Plano Police Department told a CBS 11 News crew that the person was spotted three times in their city, with two incidents being reported to authorities.

It is now also believed that the suspect in Plano is the same person involved in several disturbing incidents that occurred in Grapevine.

It was on September 23 when police in Plano received a report of a man making lewd comments at a Walmart store. One day later there was another report about a man lifting up the skirt of an 11-year-old girl at a Target store. On September 30 the same man was seen at another Target store in Plano, but there were no criminal reports made.

Meanwhile police conducting a separate investigation in Grapevine released photos and surveillance video of Kenneth Dewayne Roblez. They believe the 38-year-old sex offender is the person who made lewd comments to a 9-year-old girl and made sexually suggestive comments to a mother about her 11-year-old.

Grapevine police spokeswoman Amanda McNew said anyone who sees Roblez should call 911 immediately. "Do not talk to this man... make sure you're in a safe place and call us. Get to a safe place. And call us. As soon as someone sees him, we want to go get him."

Police say Roblez is the man seen in surveillance video at a Target store in Grapevine.

Shoppers say they are grateful a suspect has been identified. Grapevine resident Kristen Maggi said, "Of course it scared me because it's a mile from where you know I live and work. And to see that type of person, where I go a couple times per month, is very scary. But I feel like living in this area I feel very safe. Unfortunately we don't know who is walking around our stores at all times."

Parents who spoke with CBS 11 News say they are aware of the situation and are alerting their children. North Texas grandmother Jeannette Dorin explained that her family has devised a plan to make sure her 10-year-old granddaughter doesn't walk home from school alone.

"It's just scary that's all, very scary" she said. "I just drilled in her head, 'don't talk to strangers', because it's scary."

Roblez, who is being called a public safety threat, was convicted of exposing himself to an 8-year-old girl in 2004 and in 2005.  There's also an active warrant for Roblez' arrest. He's wanted for violating parole.

In:
• Grapevine Police