PRIMERA — A Mexican national has been arrested and charged with sexually assaulting a child on New Year’s Day.
Ivan Trevino, 29, was arraigned Saturday on a first-degree felony charge of aggravated sexual assault of a child, with bond set at $15,000.
If found guilty, Trevino could face a minimum of 25 years in prison, said Police Chief Manuel Trevino, who is not related to the suspect.
Police were called Friday at 8:30 p.m. to a home on Alonzo Road where a New Year’s Day party was taking place.
Witnesses said they noticed the 5-year-old child was missing at some point during the party
When they went looking for the child, they found Trevino, a local handyman and friend of the family, with the child in a dark area toward the back of the property, police said.
Witnesses told police Trevino was questioned by family members on why he had lured the child away from the party and he became extremely nervous. That’s when the child made an outcry of sexual assault by Trevino, police said.
One of the family members became upset and assaulted Trevino, police said. That person has not been arrested because no charges have been filed.
Trevino left the house but was found by police hiding under a mobile home close by.
He was immediately taken into custody. The child was taken to a local hospital for a medical evaluation.
Chief Trevino said the man has no criminal record they could find and he is not a registered sex offender.
The child now is with the family and has been interviewed at Maggie’s House, a county child advocacy center, police said.
The mission of the center is to advocate for and serve child victims of abuse through prevention, intervention and treatment.
Trevino is currently being housed at the county jail.
Because he is illegally in the country, an immigration detainer has been placed on him by the U.S. Border Patrol.
Chief Trevino said police could not find any documents verifying where the suspect is from, but said he may be from Nuevo Leon, Mexico.
