Franklin man charged with rape, sexual abuse

By Tom Smith
Senior Staff Writer

A man who authorities say is an illegal immigrant has been charged with rape and sexual abuse.

Officials with the Franklin County Sheriff's Office said 38-year-old Alvaro Vargas, 203 Califas Road, Russellville, was arrested Monday and charged with first-degree rape, first-degree sexual abuse and second-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument.

Investigators said Vargas is accused of sexually attacking a 12-year-old girl who was a family friend.

Authorities said the situation has apparently been going on for sometime.

The girl was 11 years old when the incidents took place, officials said.

Officials with the sheriff's department said they were contacted Monday by the Franklin County Department of Human Resources.

Investigators said that after locating Vargas' residence, they set up surveillance for more than six hours before he came home and was taken into custody.

Authorities said once in custody, Vargas, who has been in the U.S. illegally for 26 years and in the Russellville area for the past six years, presented them with a false Social Security card.

Leslie Sawyer, victim's service coordinator with Rape Response, said according to the National Crime Victimization Survey, 67 percent of all victims of sexual assault reported to law enforcement agencies that participated in the survey, were juveniles under the age of 18, and 34 percent of all victims were under the age of 12.

Vargas is being held in the Franklin County Jail on bail totaling $157,500 and is

also being held for U.S.

Immigrations.

Courthouse officials said first-degree rape is a Class A felony, which is punishable by 10 years to life in prison, if convicted. The other two charges are both Class C felonies, which carry a punishment of one to 10 years in prison if convicted.

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