A 19-year-old student at Menlo College has been charged with the alleged rape of a 12-year-old girl in his campus dorm room, according to San Mateo County prosecutors.
Andres Manuel Aguilar was accused of luring the underage girl to his dormitory after they met at a Menlo Park transit stop. Prosecutors stated that Aguilar, of San Jose, gave the victim his phone number and persuaded her to meet him on May 5. According to the San Mateo County District Attorney's office, Aguilar admitted to law enforcement that he knew the victim was underage, despite her allegedly telling him she was 17.
The Atherton Police Department was notified of the incident after the victim and her mother sought medical treatment at Stanford, records indicate. The victim's mother told KRON4 that her daughter snuck out of the house after dark to meet Aguilar. The pair reportedly purchased alcohol before going to Aguilar's dorm.
Dorm surveillance footage showed the two entering Aguilar's residence hall and the victim leaving at a later time, the District Attorney's office confirmed. Inside the room, Aguilar allegedly provided the victim with alcohol and vaped cannabis. The victim's mother described the events, stating, "She waited until everybody was asleep and snuck out of the house. They ended up going to the college, where she was raped."
Authorities allege that Aguilar stripped off the victim’s pants while she protested. Citing concerns about a potential pregnancy, Aguilar reportedly used DoorDash to order emergency contraception to the room, according to court documents.
Aguilar is being held without bail on multiple felony charges, including aggravated sexual assault of a child, aggravated sexual assault of a minor involving oral copulation, and providing marijuana to a minor under 14. San Mateo County District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe highlighted the severity of cases involving young children, stating, "If a child is 13 and under, society treats that much more seriously. The penalties are much higher. There is never any argument that a child could have consented in any fashion to it, and it really becomes serious when you deal with a 12-year-old child."
If convicted, Aguilar faces a maximum penalty of life in prison. His preliminary hearing, initially scheduled for midsummer, has been postponed to August 27 in Redwood City Felony Court. A retired judge granted a joint motion by the prosecution and defense to continue the hearing to allow investigators more time to pursue leads regarding a potential second victim. This is the second delay since Aguilar's initial felony arraignment on May 15, 2026.
The incident has reportedly stunned the Menlo College community. The institution is a private business college with an undergraduate student body of approximately 810 to 880 students, recognized globally for graduate employability and AACSB business accreditation.
Menlo College administrators have declined to comment on the suspect's enrollment status, citing privacy protocols. "We take all allegations of criminal conduct and misconduct involving our community with the utmost seriousness," a Menlo College spokesperson stated in a release to KRON4. "In accordance with federal and state privacy laws, we are unable to confirm identities or provide details regarding ongoing investigations."
This case follows a recent rape investigation at UC Santa Barbara that led to pushback from student advocacy groups. UCLA has also recently addressed security concerns after a man unaffiliated with the university was arrested for a series of assaults against multiple women on campus grounds.
Authorities are urging anyone with information about Aguilar to contact the Atherton Police Department.