Man arrested for alleged rape of a 12-year-old girl
By Ricardo Tovar
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MORGAN HILL, California (KSBW) — Morgan Hill police said they arrested a Santa Cruz County man on suspicion of sexually assaulting a child.
Police said they responded Feb. 12 to reports that a 12-year-old girl had been sexually assaulted by a 21-year-old man.
Officers learned the two had been communicating through the social media app Snapchat before the alleged assault.
Detectives said the suspect arranged to meet the victim and picked her up at her home in Morgan Hill.
The suspect was later identified as Alexis Javier Mendez-Gallardo of Freedom in Santa Cruz County.
Police said an arrest warrant was obtained for Mendez-Gallardo and, with the help of Watsonville police, he was located and arrested.
Police said he will be booked into Santa Clara County Jail on suspicion of rape of a child under 14, oral copulation of a child under 14, sexual penetration of a child under 14, lewd or lascivious acts with a minor, and arranging to meet a minor for lewd purposes.
“The Morgan Hill Police Department reminds parents and guardians to remain vigilant about their children’s online activity and to speak with them about the potential dangers of communicating with unknown individuals through social media platforms,” police said in a social media post.
Anyone with more information is asked to contact Detective Sgt. Sean Bayard at 408-607-3032 or sean.bayard@morganhill.ca.gov.
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