El Salvadorian man charged with child sex abuse in Granite Shoals

Posted on 16 December 2015

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MIGUEL PEREZ

GRANITE SHOALS — An El Salvadorian national remains behind bars after the family of an alleged victim under the age of 14 accused the suspect of molesting the girl over a period of time, according to the Granite Shoals Police Department.

Miguel Perez, 28, was charged with continuous sex abuse of a child (under 14), a first-degree felony punishable by a minimum of 25 years and a maximum of 99 years or life in prison.

The police department obtained a warrant, and the suspect was booked Dec. 8 into the Burnet County Jail, where he is being held on a $500,000 surety bond.

Authorities said Perez is also being held on an Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainer because he is “not a documented citizen of the U.S,” Granite Shoals Sgt. Chris Decker said.

Should the suspect post bond (10 percent of the bond amount) prior to disposition of the case, federal agents are expected to become involved in the case, officials say.

“I don’t think (Perez) would have the wherewithal to post bond,” Decker said. “We would hope that, in the event that (posting bond) would be an issue, that ICE would most likely take him.”

Investigators were alerted about the sex abuse allegation Dec. 4 after meeting family members at a Granite Shoals residence.

“The family had discovered disturbing information on an (electronic device) belonging to the victim,” according to a police statement. “The victim then made the outcry of a sexual abuse encounter. Perez was named and known by the victim and family.”

Subsequent investigation “determined that the outcry incident was not the only time abuse had occurred,” according to the report.

“This crime makes me nauseous and is an affront to society,” Granite Shoals Police Chief J.P. Wilson said in a statement. “Sadly, no matter how hard law enforcement works to be proactive, this type of crime occurs behind closed doors and without an outcry.”

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