A Venezuelan migrant seeking asylum in the U.S. was arrested for allegedly raping a woman in front of a 3-year-old at a hotel in a suburb of Buffalo, New York.
26-year-old Jesus Guzman-Bermudez was charged with first-degree rape, second-degree unlawful imprisonment, endangering the welfare of a child, and second-degree harassment.
Prosecutors said that Guzman-Bermudez sexually assaulted his partner in their Cheektowaga hotel room on Aug. 2 while their 3-year-old child was in the same room. The victim reported the assault to their immigration case worker, who then notified the Cheektowaga police.
“Once we were able to break through the language barrier we were able to put together an allegation that this woman had been raped by – again we don’t know if they’re married or boyfriend and girlfriend but they obviously have a relationship – they have a child together,” said Erie County District Attorney John Flynn.
“And so the allegation is he – even though they’re a couple or have a relationship it can still be rape obviously – no means no,” he added.
Guzman-Bermudez is being held without bail and faces a maximum of 25 years in prison if convicted.
Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz, a Democrat, issued a statement supporting the suspect’s deportation if he were to be found guilty.
“For generations, America has welcomed migrants seeking safety and a better life to our shores,” said Poloncarz. “Any asylum-seeker who shatters the sacred trust placed in them by violating the law, including against a fellow asylum seeker, as in this matter, should be swiftly prosecuted and deported after they are punished for their crimes.”
Flynn also said that of the 570 migrants who have been accepted in Erie County, only four have been arrested for criminal behavior, and the rape allegation was far worse than the allegations against the other three.
“This notion that these people are going to come in town and commit mayhem has not been the case,” he explained. “Only four of over 500 have got in trouble. And the first three were just petit larceny and so minor offenses. This obviously is more serious.”
Here’s more about the alleged incident:
Man from Venezuela accused of rape in the Town of Cheektowagawww.youtube.com
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