A man suspected of sexually assaulting a teenage girl over the last two years has been arrested along with his girlfriend who failed to report the allegations to police.
Sigmund Gomez, 39, and 35-year-old Sara Ybarra, were both arrested Tuesday, May 14, on charges related to the allegations.
Gomez is charged with eight second-degree felony counts of criminal sexual penetration of a minor and four fourth-degree felony counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor. Ybarra is charged one third-degree felony count of child abuse and one misdemeanor count of failing to report child abuse.
Police were made aware of the allegations on April 12, 2019, and learned that the sexual assault had been occurring for at least two years, prior to Gomez and Ybarra moving to Las Cruces with the teenage girl.
Investigators learned the girl, now 15, told Ybarra that Gomez had been sexually assaulting her. After making the disclosure, Ybarra allegedly ripped off the girl’s clothes and threw the girl to the floor in front of Gomez. Ybarra then forced the girl to leave the house.
The girl has since been placed in the custody of her biological father.
Gomez and Ybarra were booked into the Dona Ana County Detention Center on Tuesday, May 14. They are both initially being held without bond.