Guatemalan national charged with child molestation; ICE detainer issued
Juan Francisco | La Porte County Sheriff's Office
LA PORTE COUNTY, Ind. - A man is facing multiple child molestation charges following an investigation into a reported sexual assault of a 12-year-old girl in Indiana, authorities said.
What we know:
Deputies with the La Porte County Sheriff’s Office responded to a home around 12:40 a.m. on Tuesday after a third party reported the girl had been assaulted by a family member. Upon arrival, deputies located the victim and identified the accused, Juan Francisco, who was found inside the residence.
Francisco was taken into custody after deputies gathered further information. He was transported to the La Porte County Jail, where he is being held without bond on a 48-hour hold pending further investigation.
Following a recorded interview with the victim, a detective submitted his findings to the La Porte County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. Francisco was formally charged in La Porte County Circuit Court with one count of Level 1 felony child molestation and one count of Level 4 felony child molestation.
Officials also confirmed that Francisco is originally from Guatemala. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has placed a detainer on him.
The Indiana Department of Child Services and Dunebrook Child Advocacy Center assisted in the investigation.
The Source: The information in this report came from the La Porte Country Sheriff's Office.