La Porte County, IN – A 40-year-old man was arrested in Johnson Township early Monday morning after allegedly sexually assaulting a 12-year-old girl, according to law enforcement officials.
According to the La Porte County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded at 12:40 a.m. Monday to a home following a third-party report that a juvenile had been assaulted by a family member. Deputy Micah Dokmanovic interviewed the victim, while other deputies located the suspect, Juan Francisco, inside the residence.
Francisco, who emerged from a rear bedroom, was detained shortly after deputies gathered further details from the victim. He was later transported to the La Porte County Jail, where a 48-hour hold was placed on him pending further investigation. The child was taken to the Criminal Investigations Division for a recorded interview.
Detective Derrick Deck presented findings in a probable cause affidavit, and Francisco was charged in La Porte County Circuit Court with two counts of child molestation — one as a Level 1 felony and another as a Level 4 felony.
Additionally, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) regional office issued a detainer on Francisco, who is originally from Guatemala. Authorities say he is being held at the La Porte County Jail without bond.
The investigation involved multiple agencies, including Indiana Department of Child Services and the Dunebrook Child Advocacy Center.
Authorities emphasized that all individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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