Illegal immigrant charged with rape in Limestone County
Posted: Dec 01, 2010 1:55 PM PST
Updated: Dec 01, 2010 3:17 PM PST

By Elizabeth Gentle

LIMESTONE COUNTY, AL (WAFF) - Police arrested a man they say had a sexual relationship with an 11-year-old girl for more than a year.

23-year-old Juan Lopez Rios was charged with rape for the crime. Police also say he bit the 11-year-old victim on her chest.

Limestone County Sheriff Mike Blakely calls it a disturbing case of child rape that began over a year ago.

"They would meet, they had a neighbor or relative that had a van. They were meeting regularly," said Blakely

Investigators say the 11-year-old Hispanic girl was having consensual sex with Rios.

Blakely says the girl's mother discovered their relationship when she noticed several deep bite marks on the child's chest.

She filed a police report first thing on Monday morning.

"When he was arrested, he admitted she was 11-years-old, but he didn't know he would go to jail for it," said Blakely.

Rios, who is in this country illegally, was arrested and charged with first degree rape. Alabama law states the age of consent is 16.

Blakely says what disturbs him most isn't the age, but the brutality Rios showed the girl.

"That within itself constitutes a crime even if statutory rape had not occurred," said Blakely.

http://www.waff.com/Global/story.asp?S=13598211