A Venezuelan illegal immigrant accused of sexually assaulting his boss’ 14-year-old daughter was arrested in Denver last week after evading police for nearly three months.
The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office said they arrested Jesus Alberto Pereira Castillo, 20, on Tuesday in the Aug. 29 attack that authorities said took place inside his employer’s home, in which the suspect was temporarily living.
“At around 10:30 that evening, Castillo forced himself on the 14-year-old daughter of the homeowner, sexually assaulting her,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement. “He left the residence before deputies arrived.”
Mr. Castillo had his first court appearance Wednesday.
Homeland Security sources told the New York Post that the suspect illegally crossed into El Paso, Texas, in September 2023. He was released because the facility at which he was being held had no more room to detain him.
Mr. Castillo said he intended to go to Orlando, Florida, but wound up in Colorado. He was arrested in May on charges of possessing tools for forgery/counterfeiting and larceny, according to the Post.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement submitted a detainer for Mr. Castillo following his arrest on sexual assault charges.
Not only is Colorado a sanctuary state and Denver a sanctuary city, but the city’s mayor has become a lightning rod in the nation’s immigration debate.
Mayor Mike Johnston, a Democrat, came out last week against incoming President-elect Donald Trump’s plan to carry out mass deportations across the country, saying city police and disgruntled residents could become involved in the effort to resist them.
“It’s like the Tiananmen Square moment with the rose and the gun, right?” Mr. Johnston told Denverite. “You’d have every one of those Highland moms who came out for the migrants. And you do not want to mess with them.”
The mayor walked back his comments in a Friday interview with Denver NBC affiliate KUSA, though he said he does expect local residents to participate in civil disobedience if Mr. Trump makes good on his deportation plan.
He also said he’d be willing to go to jail in situations where the president-to-be does something illegal.
• Matt Delaney can be reached at mdelaney@washingtontimes.com.
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