Immigration agency takes custody of Gonzales

By Jan Schultz
The Imperial Republican

A man arrested for sexual assault of a child in August was taken into custody last week by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials in North Platte. Nicholas Gonzales, 22, who is in this country illegally, was delivered to ICE officers Dec. 21 by Sgt. Rob Browning and Officer Kyle Hansen of the Imperial Police Department after a plea agreement was reached. Chase County Attorney Arlan Wine said the agreement bans Gonzales from returning to Chase County. If he does, the county has the right to prosecute him for the charge of sexual assault of a child.

After intense conversations with the 12-year-old victim’s mother, Wine said they chose not to proceed with prosecution because they had a “very vulnerable witnessâ€