Authorities in Idaho have arrested an illegal alien accused of sexually abusing a child for years starting when she was a toddler.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) provided Border Hawk with an immigration background on Jose Oliver Mendoza-Colindres, 43, who was taken into custody this month in Jefferson County, Idaho.
On July 14, deputies attended a forensic interview with the victim and her family at Bright Tomorrows Child Advocacy Center in Pocatello.
The victim described a series of assaults that began when she was just 3 years old and lasted until she was eight, according to court documents reviewed by East Idaho News.
She said Mendoza-Colindres frequently touched her inappropriately or removed her clothing whenever she visited his home, as often as twice a month.
“I’m showing you my love,” Mendoza-Colindres reportedly told the child during many of the violations.
In 2020, the victim’s father reportedly caught Mendoza-Colindres abusing the child during a party, and a physical altercation involving the child’s mother ensued.
“Court documents state the victim’s parents did not report the incident because they were unsure if the victim would remember the incident at her age and did not want to traumatize her. In addition, documents state the victim’s parents were concerned about the victim’s father’s immigration status,” East Idaho News reports.
The victim’s parents eventually reported the abuse to the Bannock County Sheriff’s Office, and authorities in Jefferson County filed an arrest warrant for Mendoza-Colindres.
He has been charged with one count of sexual abuse of a minor under the age of 16 and two counts of lewd conduct with a minor under the age of 16.
Additionally, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has lodged a detainer against Mendoza-Colindres, a Mexican national who was previously deported in 2002 but snuck back into the U.S. via California in 2007, he claimed.
“This criminal illegal alien is accused of repeatedly sexually assaulting a child while she was between the ages of 3 and 8 years old,” DHS Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis told Border Hawk.
“ICE has lodged a detainer asking officials in Idaho to not release this pedophile from jail and turn him over to ICE. Since Idaho cooperates with ICE, we will ensure this sicko is removed from our country after he faces justice for his crimes.”
