Grady Judd: Illegal immigrant accused of enslaving, sexually abusing child for years faces upgraded charges

Illegal immigrant charged with sexual battery

FOX 13's Carla Bayron reports on Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd announcing that a 32-year-old illegal immigrant accused of committing the "worst of the worst" crimes by enslaving and sexually abusing a child for years is now facing upgraded charges for being in the country illegally.

MULBERRY, Fla. - A man who Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd accuses of committing the "worst of the worst" crimes by enslaving and sexually abusing a child for years is facing upgraded charges for being in the country illegally.

The backstory:

Investigators said the victim contacted the Polk County Sheriff’s Office and, with the help of a translator, said Alvaro Alfaro Jimenez, 32, an illegal immigrant from Guatemala who was living in Mulberry, brought her to the United States illegally in 2019. She told investigators that they first went to Michigan and South Carolina, while her mother remained in Guatemala.

Grady Judd: Illegal immigrant enslaved child

Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd gives an update on an illegal immigrant accused of enslaving and sexually abusing a child.

Sheriff Grady Judd said when Alfaro Jimenez first entered the country illegally, he registered with ICE and was following their directions until 2021. After that, according to Judd, ICE lost track of him.

According to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, Alfaro Jimenez did not enroll the girl in school and kept her enslaved inside a Mulberry home, where he repeatedly sexually abused her for three years, since she was 12 years old.

"He didn’t want her in an environment where she could tell anyone anything," Judd stated. "Quite frankly, it was a challenge because she is from Guatemala, he is from Guatemala, and she speaks a native Mayan language."

Alvaro Alfaro Jimenez mugshot courtesy of the Polk County Sheriff's Office.

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"For three years, this child has never been to school," Judd added. "She was not socialized. She couldn’t speak English. She was a prisoner, and this guy was sexually battering her. She dialed 911 and we went to rescue her and that’s exactly what we did."

What they're saying:

"This is the first case so far in our county, and maybe even the state, where we are able to increase the severity and penalty of felonies committed by a suspect who is in our country illegally,"stated Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd. "Not only is he here illegally, his crimes are the worst of the worst - he has been sexually abusing a girl for several years, since she was just 12 years old. This brave young victim reached out for help, and we will make sure she receives all the resources available to be able to recover from this terrible abuse."

What's next:

The victim was immediately taken to a local hospital to be examined and treated for abdominal pain. The Florida Department of Children and Families has taken custody of and is caring for the victim. Judd said the plan is to reunite the victim with her family, but she needs to stay here for the time being to be a witness in this case.

Alfaro Jimenez was booked into the Polk County Jail and charged with four felonies, including child abuse, child abuse cause great harm, sexual battery by a custodial figure and incest. Those felonies are enhanced and upgraded by one degree because he was in the country illegally, according to PCSO.

He was charged with a series of felonies. Third-degree felonies have been bumped up to second-degree felonies due to the new state immigration law. Judd added that because of this, Alfaro Jimenez will be held to a higher accountability. However, sexual battery on a child is a first-degree felony and that charge has been bumped up to a life felony.

"That child should have never been sexually abused. Should never have been violated. Should never have been held enslaved, so she couldn’t freely live in society. Should not have happened. But it definitely should not have happened in the United States of America," Judd said.

He is being held in the Polk County Jail on no bond.

If he is convicted, Alfaro Jimenez could spend the rest of his life in prison.

Judd said this case is still under investigation and there could be more charges filed.

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The Source: This story was written with information provided by the Polk County Sheriff's Office.

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