Posted 4/28/2008 09:00:00 PM by Douglas

Big news in a small town in the Panhandle.

A 42-year-old Honduran national suspected of raping three women over 60 in the past two months remained in a Panhandle jail Monday.

Jose Ayala Nunez was arrested Sunday night in Wellington after investigators developed leads from the three attacks, which allegedly occurred March 17, April 10 and April 25.

Each time, the perpetrator broke into the homes, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety.

DPS spokesman Daniel Hawthorne said Nunez did not yet have an attorney. Officials at the Honduran Consulate have been notified, he said. There was no answer at a telephone number for the consulate in Houston.

Nunez, who authorities said is in the country illegally, was awaiting arraignment and remained in the Collingsworth County Jail.

No victim was hospitalized, he said. Hawthorne declined to comment on results of any rape tests done on the women.

Nunez faces two counts of burglary of a habitation with intent to commit sexual assault and one count of aggravated sexual assault — all first-degree felonies.

Wellington is 92 miles southeast of Amarillo.

Correction: Wellington is 100 miles southeast of Amarillo. Still, there are lots of loaded pistols on Wellington nightstands tonight. I asked.