WASHINGTON (TND) — A 26-year-old Haitian man arrested for aggravated rape of a 15-year-old in a migrant shelter was indicted by a grand jury Tuesday, according to a release from Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz.
Cory Alvarez is charged with one count of aggravated rape of a child with a 10-year age difference and one count of rape of a child by force. He is currently being held without bail and will be arraigned in Plymouth County Superior Court later this year.
In March, police responded to reports of a sexual assault at a Comfort Inn in Rockland, Mass. The building was being used to house migrants, including Alvarez. Police say they took the 15-year-old victim to a nearby hospital and arrested Alvarez at the scene.
Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey said at the time that Alvarez entered the U.S. via "a federal program," according to CBS Boston.
READ MORE | Haitian migrant admits to sexually abusing 10-year-old girl in Florida, police say
State Rep. David DeCoste, R-Rockland, reacted to the news, saying the state “failed” the 15-year-old.
I am absolutely appalled by the incident that took place in Rockland. Above all, my heartfelt sympathies extend to the young girl who has reportedly been subjected to abuse,” State Rep. DeCoste remarked. “I have 100% confidence in Chief Zeoli and his team in the Rockland police department to conduct a thorough investigation into this horrible crime.”Massachusetts officials have turned to housing migrants in public buildings as the state continues to take in new arrivals from the southern border. Norfolk Select Board Member Anita Mecklenburg shared her concerns with The National Desk last week about the state’s plan to accommodate up to 450 people in a former prison.
“This is our first time housing families that I’m aware of," Mecklenburg said. “We have just a queue of people eager to help and eager to be supportive, and there’s some anxiety as well, which is fair. We don’t have a lot of information, and when things are uncertain, it is an anxious time.”
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