Teenage girl charged with slapping rape victim

SAN JUAN — A teenage girl accused of slapping a rape victim in the face was charged with assault Thursday afternoon at her arraignment hearing.

Belen Vargas, 17, remains incarcerated at the Hidalgo County Jail in lieu of a $25,000 bond. Her 23-year-old brother, Benito, is accused of raping the 16-year-old Jalisco native on several occassions, San Juan Police Chief Juan Gonzalez told The Monitor.

Benito Vargas’ 45-year-old mother, Ofelia, was arrested on a charge of failure to report a felony. Belen Vargas was already in custody at La Villa Detention Center on unrelated charges.

It is The Monitor’s policy not to name victims of sexual crimes.

Police raided the family’s home at 210 W. 10th St. on Dec. 23 and are investigating a tip from neighbors that a young child was also kept at the house.

The victim told police Ofelia Vargas laughed at her and warned her not to become pregnant when the teen pleaded for help during the rape, according to a police affidavit.

The girl escaped on Dec. 15 through a window in the house, found a helpful neighbor and was taken to a shelter. A nurse at the center determined that the girl had contracted sexually transmitted diseases, the statement said.

Police are still searching for Vargas on suspicion of six counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child, Gonzalez said. Benito Vargas, who may face additional charges of unlawful restraint and human trafficking, was last seen in Mexico, where he allegedly went to intimidate the girl’s family when she disappeared.

According to the affidavit, the victim was brought to the United States without her parents' consent. Police said the girl likely believed Benito Vargas could help her find work. Instead, she was allegedly abused, neglected and raped over a period of several weeks beginning Nov. 21.

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Ana Ley covers law enforcement and general assignments for The Monitor. She can be reached at (956) 683-4428.