Mexican girl abused, raped in San Juan house, police say

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>> Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Benito Vargas is asked to call the San Juan Police Department at (956) 787-9904 or Crime Stoppers at (956) 283-8477.

SAN JUAN — A 16-year-old Mexican girl was forced into household labor, deprived of food and shelter and raped six times by the man who smuggled her into this country, according to authorities.

Benito Vargas, 17, is accused of raping the Jalisco native on several occasions while his mother ignored the girl’s cries for help, San Juan Police Chief Juan Gonzalez said. The girl, who was smuggled into the United States on claims she would have a better life here, was also beaten on several occasions, was rarely fed and was forced to sleep on a couch outside while she was at the house on West 10th Street.

“She came over with the intent of a better life,” the chief said. “But what she walked into was a nightmare.”

The girl escaped this week through a window in the house, found a helpful neighbor and was taken to a shelter where she is under police supervision.

Police are searching for Vargas on suspicion of six counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child, Gonzalez said. He was last seen in Mexico, where he allegedly went to intimidate the girl’s family when she disappeared.

San Juan police raided the house at 210 W. 10th St. Wednesday afternoon and took Vargas’ mother, Ofelia Vargas, 45, into custody.

Arrested on a charge of failure to report a felony, she is accused of idly standing by while her son allegedly raped the victim, Gonzalez said. Ofelia Vargas also allegedly harassed and intimidated the girl while she was at the house.

Her daughter, Belen Vargas, 17, faces a misdemeanor charge of assaulting the girl.

Police believe the victim was brought over to the U.S. with her parents’ consent on the pretext that Benito Vargas could help her find work, Gonzalez said. Instead, she was allegedly abused, neglected and raped over a period of several weeks beginning Nov. 21.

Police are investigating a tip from neighbors that a young child was also kept at the house, where two other undocumented immigrants were detained during a raid Wednesday.

Ofelia Vargas was taken to Hidalgo County Jail, where she remains in lieu of a $50,000 bond.

Belen Vargas, her daughter, was already in custody at La Villa Detention Center on unrelated charges.

Police believe Benito Vargas — who may face additional charges of unlawful restraint and human trafficking — remains at large somewhere in Mexico.

When police notified the girl’s family in Mexico that she was under police supervision, Gonzalez said, the family told them Benito Vargas had come to their house earlier searching for her.

Gonzalez said it’s not unusual for women and girls to be lured to the United States under pretenses masking sinister intentions.

“Once they’re here, the motives change,” he said, noting that the girl was likely a target for use in domestic servitude or prostitution.

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Jared Janes covers Hidalgo County government, Edinburg and general assignments for The Monitor. You can reach him at (956) 683-4424.