DDN – An illegal immigrant from Honduras is facing criminal charges for allegedly attacking a 13-year-old girl in a Florida park last month. WPTV reports that the teen was attacked near Okeeheelee Park on January 2.
At the time, the suspect was characterized as a Hispanic man about 30 to 40 who did not speak English.
On Jan. 11, detectives tracked down and detained Santo Martinez Varela, who was then identified using a DNA search order, according to the police department.
Varela illegally crossed the Mexican border from Honduras in 2023 without making contact with law authorities and came to West Palm Beach, according to a Facebook post by the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office.
According to online records, Varela is being held without bond at the Palm Beach County Jail on allegations of kidnapping and sexual assault and will appear before a judge on Sunday.
“To anyone thinking of committing these kinds of heinous crimes in Palm Beach County: We will find you,” the sheriff’s department posted on social media. “Justice will be served.”
Reference: Illegal immigrant arrested for kidnapping, attacking teen near Trump’s backyard: Police
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