CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — A Nueces County Grand Jury has indicted 80-year-old Noraier George Manassian on eight counts of sexual exploitation of multiple girls under the age of 18 including: trafficking, online solicitation, sexual assault, and soliciting prostitution.
Manassian is one of two people authorities say groomed young, financially desperate Corpus Christi high school aged and middle school aged girls into prostitution and then sexually assaulted them.
Amanda Rene Talbert, 46, was also charged with indecency with a child in relation to the case.
Both Manassian and Talbert were arrested in April of this year.
The Grand Jury indictment was handed down Thursday, Nov. 21.
According to the indictment, Manassian's charges include:
- 5 second-degree felony counts of sexual assault of a child between the years 2007-09.
- 1 first-degree felony of trafficking a child to engage in sexual conduct, between Sept. 2011 and Feb. 2016
- 1 third-degree felony counts soliciting nude photos from a minor in Feb. 2024
- 1 second-degree felony of offering to pay a minor for nude photos on Feb. 2024
The case against Noraier George Manassian
Arrest warrants lay out multiple sexual assault allegations against Noraier George Manassian, who was arrested Feb. 21.
September 2007: Manassian is accused of sexually assaulting a 16-year-old girl in a hotel room with Talbert and another 16-year-old present. Manassian was 63 years old at the time. One of the victims identified Manassian in a photo lineup. More details on this case below.
January 2008: Manassian is accused of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl and also having sex with the girl's friend. The friend's age was not listed. Manassian was 63 years old at the time. He is accused of assaulting the same victim a second time at some point between January 2009 and October 2010. The victim told officers she "had no support at home, did not have the ability to obtain food" or care for family members. The victim identified Manassian in a photo lineup.
August 2023: The Texas Attorney General Office's Human Trafficking Unit received a tip that Manassian asked someone to help him find a girl younger than 18 years old to pay for sex. The TABC said "Manassian has been known to pay to have sex with minor females on multiple occasions in the past."
Feb. 19, 2024: An officer in the Texas Attorney General's Office created a fake online profile for a 16-year-old Corpus Christi girl and attached her phone number. On Feb. 19, Manassian contacted that officer through the online profile and offered her $2,000 for sex. The officer told Manassian via text that she was a "16-year-old high school student." Manassian was 80 years old at the time.
Feb. 21, 2024: Officers with the Texas Attorney General's Office arrested Manassian as he showed up at the agreed meeting place -- the Omni hotel in downtown Corpus Christi at 5:38 p.m. on that Wednesday afternoon. Officers say Manassian had condoms and $2,000 in cash.
He is charged with sexual assault of a child and solicitation of prostitution for a person under 18 years of age.