Deputy accused of sexually assaulting girl, 4, threatening to have mother deported if she spoke up
Jose Nunez, 47. (Bexar County Sheriffs Office)
A sheriffs deputy in Texas has been accused of sexually assaulting a 4-year-old girl and threatening to deport her undocumented mother if she reported the crime, authorities say.
Authorities arrested detention officer Jose Nunez, a 10-year veteran of the Bexar County Sheriffs Office, early Sunday while he was off duty. He faces a felony charge of super aggravated sexual assault of a child, which carries a minimum prison sentence of 25 years, Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar said at a news conference.
The details of the case are, quite frankly, heartbreaking, disturbing, disgusting and infuriating all at the same time, Salazar said.
The sheriff said Nunez, 47, allegedly touched the girl inappropriately on numerous occasions, causing her pain and at least some indication of minor injury. Authorities believe the assaults have been taking place for several months or potentially for as long as two years, Salazar said.
The 4-year-old girl is related to Nunez, and the alleged assaults took place at her residence, Salazar said. Officials suspect there may be more victims related to Nunez who were affected.
Nunez allegedly blackmailed the girls mother, taking advantage of her undocumented status to place the mother in fear that she would be deported if she reported the alleged assaults, Salazar said.
We believe that there was some hesitation on the part of the witness to report the conduct because of the fact that shes undocumented in the country, Salazar said.
But after the 4-year-old girl made an outcry to her mom, the mother took her to a local fire station to report the crime on Saturday night, Salazar said. By morning, Nunez was booked into jail. He has not commented or filed a plea.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2018/06/18/deputy-accused-of-sexually-assaulting-girl-4-threatening-to-have-mother-deported-if-she-spoke-up/?utm_term=.b7040514c2b9