http://charlotte.news14.com/content/top ... -prior-dwi

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- A man accused of raping two children in south Charlotte Sunday night has been flagged as an illegal immigrant in Mecklenburg jail.

Ricardo Velasquez was in jail late Wednesday. He was given a $170,000 bond but was also being held by immigration authorities after sheriff's deputies identified him as an illegal immigrant under the 287(g) program.

Velasquez, 40, was charged with two counts of rape on a child under 13, two counts of taking indecent liberties with a child, and two counts of first-degree sex offense on a child. The children were ages 7 and 8, according to a police report.

The crimes happened just before 9 p.m. Sunday at an apartment on Sharon Road West, according to the report. The condition of the children was unknown, but the police report says they were treated by emergency room doctors.

Velasquez has three previous convictions for driving while impaired dating to 1997, according to a search of N.C. court records. He has also been found guilty of interfering with an emergency communication three times.

The 287(g) program that flagged Velasquez identifies and begins deportation proceedings against people in the country illegally who are arrested in Mecklenburg and other cooperating jurisdictions