A 53-year-old man has been arrested and charged after a 14-year-old girl in Pasco County, Florida, reported multiple sexual assaults, the Pasco Sheriff's Office said.
Eduardo Rivera-Villarreal was charged with human trafficking, lewd and lascivious battery and rape of a victim under 17, the sheriff's office said in a news release. Authorities allege Rivera-Villarreal met the girl on or about Aug. 20 when he pulled over at a bus stop in Pasco County, offered her a ride and paid her for sex. The sheriff's office said the girl told Rivera-Villarreal she was underage and that he continued to meet with her on multiple occasions and at several locations between Aug. 20 and Sept. 2.
The Pasco Sheriff's Office said Rivera-Villarreal is an undocumented immigrant who had been released into the community during the Biden administration. The sheriff's office provided the timeline and charging information in its news release but did not provide additional details about how or when he was released from federal immigration custody.
Investigators said the assault allegations prompted an active criminal investigation. Rivera-Villarreal was taken into custody and booked on the charges listed in the sheriff's office statement. Law enforcement did not immediately release information about his immigration processing status, court dates or potential bond.
The case underscores the overlap between local criminal investigations and federal immigration enforcement that has been a focus of national political debate. Local law enforcement agencies have at times criticized federal immigration policies and release practices when noncitizens are later charged with crimes; federal authorities have said that immigration processing and criminal prosecutions are handled by separate systems.
Pasco County authorities did not release further identifying details about the victim. Officials said they would continue to investigate and coordinate with prosecutors as the case proceeds. The Pasco Sheriff's Office encouraged anyone with information to contact investigators.
No statements were immediately available from Rivera-Villarreal's attorneys, and federal immigration officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Court records will reflect the next procedural steps as prosecutors file formal charges and the case moves through the local judicial system.
The arrest comes amid continuing public attention to immigration policy and enforcement at both local and federal levels. Local authorities said the investigation remains ongoing and that additional details will be released as appropriate by the Pasco Sheriff's Office and prosecuting attorneys.