A 47-year-old deputy with the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office was arrested Sunday on allegations he repeatedly raped the 4-year-old daughter of an undocumented immigrant, threatening to deport her if she dared report him to the authorities.
It is not clear how long the mother was aware of the rapes, but she reported him Sunday morning after her daughter cried out for help, taking her to fire department which is what led to the deputy’s arrest.
Jose Nunez is now on paid administrative leave.
He was charged with super aggravated sexual assault because the victim is younger than six years old. He is facing 25 years if convicted.
Investigators say the deputy may have been raping the girl for months, if not years.
It is not clear at this time what is his relation to the girl but the rapes took place at the girl’s home.
The girl’s mother, who is from Guatemala, will likely not be deported because she needs to testify against Nunez, according to Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar.
According to the San Antonio Express-News.
“Folks like this are creatures of habit and opportunity,” Salazar said. “I don’t know that he was purposely targeting the undocumented community. Certainly what was appealing was the vulnerability of that community because they are less apt to report things.”
Salazar said investigators are working to ensure that the mother is given protected status as a witness in the case.
The sheriff also encouraged any other members of the undocumented community to come forward and report similar crimes against them.
“My objective is to separate this person from the agency as soon as possible,” Salazar said.
Nunez has been at the agency for ten years and works as a detention officer in the county jail system.
