A 27-year-old man described by federal authorities as being in the country illegally is in custody after investigators said he abducted a 6-year-old girl from her home overnight and sexually assaulted her.
A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson confirmed to News Media that the agency has placed an immigration detainer on Lester Noe Perez-Amador following his arrest.
Authorities said the disturbing incident took place in Washington Borough, New Jersey.
A man federal officials say is an illegal immigrant is accused of kidnapping a young girl from her New Jersey home in the middle of the night and sexually assaulting her. (Google Maps)
According to Washington Township Police, Perez-Amador faces multiple charges after he allegedly entered a residence during the Labor Day holiday weekend and kidnapped the 6-year-old child.
She was reported missing from her home just before 3 a.m. Saturday; within an hour police found her “as she was returning home on foot,” the report says.
She was taken to the hospital for treatment.
Investigators say they “developed additional evidence supporting allegations that Perez-Amador sexually assaulted the child after kidnapping” her.
A day later, police arrested Perez-Amador, who investigators say is “known” to the child victim.
When arrested, he was initially charged with home invasion burglary and kidnapping.
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According to New Jersey law, first-degree kidnapping carries a “carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment with 25 years of parole ineligibility,” police said.
DHS confirmed to News Media that Perez-Amador was living in the U.S. illegally but could not confirm when or where he unlawfully entered the country.
Federal agents are seen walking in uniform. (John Moore/Getty Images)
The agency did confirm he was arrested in a DUI case and taken into ICE custody to face deportation in March of 2024. DHS said, “The Biden administration then released him back into the community despite being a criminal illegal alien with no right to remain in our country.”
On Tuesday, Warren County Prosecutor Jessica L. Cardone announced Perez-Amador faces two counts of aggravated sexual assault and one count of endangering the welfare of a child.
Cardone said in part, “Protecting our children is a responsibility we take very seriously, and our commitment does not end with an arrest. The Warren County Prosecutor’s Office will now proceed with this prosecution and continue our pursuit of justice.”
An illegal immigrant is facing charges after investigators say he kidnapped and sexually assaulted a young girl in Washington Borough, New Jersey. (Google Maps)
DHS said, “We are urging Washington Township authorities to transfer Perez-Amador into ICE custody so we can do what Biden failed to do the first time—get this criminal illegal alien off of our streets and back to Guatemala where he belongs.”
Perez-Amador is sitting inside a Warren County jail cell pending his first court appearance. He is due in court on October 19.