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Two men accused of sexual assault, giving alcohol to teen girls

Tuesday, September 26, 2006

By MIKE WIGGINS

The Daily Sentinel

Two suspected illegal immigrants were arrested early Tuesday morning after they allegedly provided alcohol to two 13-year-old girls and sexually assaulted them inside a motel room.

Juan Francisco Rodriguez-Fregoso, 25, and Jose Antonio Mendez-Luna, 19, were arrested about 1 a.m. in front of one of the girls’ houses and jailed on suspicion of felony counts of sexual assault, sexual assault on a child, enticement of a child and contributing to the delinquency of a minor and misdemeanor counts of child abuse.

One of the girls told Grand Junction police detectives she and her friend left school on a Grand Valley Transit bus before school got out Monday, met up with another friend and ended up near Whitman Park. She said the three of them then accepted a ride from Rodriguez-Fregoso and Mendez-Luna, who drove them to the Prospector Motel, 547 U.S. Highway 50, according to an arrest affidavit.

The girl said the group checked into a room, and the two men left to purchase alcohol, returning a short time later with tequila, beer, champagne and energy drinks. She said all five of them drank, and the three girls became very intoxicated. She said Rodriguez-Fregoso then laid on top of her and began having sex with her, while her friend and Mendez-Luna were having sex on the other bed at the same time, according to the affidavit.

Eventually, the girl said, the two men drove the two 13-year-olds and their friend to the girl’s sister’s house. From there, they got a ride to the girl’s house, where they fell asleep. She said the two of them woke up later and saw Rodriguez-Fregoso and Mendez-Luna parked near her house in the same vehicle in which the men had picked up the girls, the affidavit said.

A family member called 911, and the two men were detained by relatives of the girls until police arrived.

The second girl told police she consumed so much alcohol in the motel room that she couldn’t remember what happened in the motel room. She said her next memory was her mother picking her up from the first girl’s house and taking her to be interviewed by police, the affidavit said.

Both girls submitted to sexual-assault exams, which revealed vaginal injuries to both of them, police said.

Rodriguez-Fregoso and Mendez-Luna appeared in court Tuesday to be advised of the possible charges and, through an interpreter, told Mesa County Judge Craig Henderson they are residents of Mexico. The U.S. Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement has asked that Rodriguez-Fregoso and Mendez-Luna be detained.

Henderson set the men’s bonds at $20,000 each and ordered them to return to court Oct. 3, when prosecutors are expected to file formal charges.

Mike Wiggins can be reached via e-mail at mwiggins@gjds.com.