New allegation in Novato rape case: Man paid for girl
By Gary Klien
Posted: 03/11/2009 06:46:31 PM PDT

A 54-year-old Novato man accused of holding a girl captive for sex allegedly paid some $5,000 to have her transported from Guatemala to be his girlfriend, authorities said Wednesday.

Hector Larico was arraigned Wednesday afternoon on charges of rape, unlawful sexual intercourse, false imprisonment by violence, dissuading a witness by force of threat, possession of a false government document and involuntary servitude.

Larico could face up to 11 years and four months in state prison if convicted, said Deputy District Attorney Linda Witong.

Larico was arrested Monday afternoon after an investigation by the Novato Police Department. Police said the 16-year-old girl had been held captive for several days in a Novato man's bedroom until she was rescued by some students at Novato High School.

One of the students lives in the same house where Larico has a room, and after becoming aware of the confined girl, gathered some friends to confront the suspect and save the victim, said Novato police Sgt. Keith Heiden.

The girl had been locked in the man's room on the second floor of the residence, which is on Tinker Way. Police are still investigating whether the girl was bound, Heiden said.

Police said Larico threatened to harm the girl's infant child if she went to authorities. The girl left her baby in Guatemala.

Larico arranged for the girl through acquaintances, Heiden said.

"His belief was that he was paying money to have a girlfriend brought up here," he
Advertisement
said.

The girl was placed into protective custody by county social workers. She turns 17 in May.

Police have linked no additional victims to Larico, but the investigation is continuing and anyone with information can call the Novato Police Department at 897-4361.

Larico is being held in lieu of $500,000 bail. In addition to the bail amount, Larico, a native of Peru, is being detained on a federal immigration hold pending an investigation into his citizenship status.

A plea hearing is pending.

Read more Novato stories at the IJ's Novato section.

Contact Gary Klien via e-mail at gklien@marinij.com. For more crime news, visit the Marin IJ's crime blog,

http://www.marinij.com/ci_11891011?source=rss