A Guatemalan man in the United States illegally was taken into custody Sunday after police in north Alabama say he was caught sexually abusing a child.
Luis Lopez-Martinez, 38, was arrested by Limestone County sheriff’s deputies after a 911 call reported he was “in the act of sexually assaulting a child under the age of 12,” the sheriff’s office said Tuesday.
The victim’s family allegedly witnessed the act and detained Lopez-Martinez until law enforcement arrived, according to LCSO. He was then arrested by Limestone County Deputy Bradley Fontenot.
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Luis Lopez-Martinez, 38, was taken into custody after he was allegedly caught sexually assaulting a 12-year-old boy on Sunday in Limestone County, Alabama, according to local authorities. (Limestone County Sheriff’s Office/Facebook)
Lopez-Martinez was initially identified by another name, but authorities later confirmed his true identity.
The victim, identified as just under 12 years old, was taken to a local hospital for evaluation and treatment.
Lopez-Martinez was arrested after she allegedly admitted to sexually abusing the child during an interview with an investigator and said “this is who she is,” according to the sheriff’s office.
He remains in jail with bond set at $250,000.
The Limestone County Sheriff’s Office arrested Luis Lopez-Martinez on Jan. 19 after the family of the deceased caught him abusing the child sexually and locked him up. (Limestone County Sheriff’s Office / Facebook)
ALLEGED CHILD SEX OFFENDER ARRESTED AFTER BEING DETENTED, ICE SAYS
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has placed him on an immigration detainer, which is supposed to prevent him from returning to society even if he posts bail.
“When a law enforcement agency honors a detainer, it notifies ICE before releasing a potentially dangerous non-citizen. ICE law enforcement officers then take the non-citizen into a secure facility,” ICE said on its website describing the detainees.
Luis Lopez-Martinez, 38, was taken into ICE custody after he allegedly sexually assaulted a child under the age of 12. (Bryan Cox/US Immigration and Customs Enforcement via Getty Images)
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The sheriff’s office said the investigation is still active and more charges are possible.
“I would like to thank Deputy Fontenot and the Detective [Kandace] Wilson for their dedication and tireless efforts in seeking justice for this innocent child,” said LCSO Sheriff Joshua McLaughlin. “Their efforts reinforce our commitment to protecting the most vulnerable members of our community and ensuring justice is served.”
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