Phoenix man arrested on multiple child sex crime felony charges

A 33-year-old Phoenix man was arrested Thursday afternoon on charges connected to the alleged sexual abuse of a minor, according to court documents.

Carlos Fernando Juarez is facing three felony charges: two counts of sexual conduct with a minor and one count of luring a minor for sexual exploitation.

After his arrest, Juarez admitted to having sexual contact with the victim when she was 15 years old, according to arrest documents, which identify him as her brother-in-law.

Court docs: Arrest came months after sexual abuse investigation started

The investigation began in February, when the victim, who is now 18, reported the alleged abuse, according to arrest records.

One of her sisters was present during the report. Days later, that sister told police she had called 911 after learning about the allegations.

The sister who called 911 later provided investigators with text messages between Juarez and the victim, according to arrest records. The messages began when the victim was 17. In them, Juarez allegedly expressed a desire for sexual activity.

Juarez’s bond is set at $350,000.

Sister believed family wanted to hide the allegations, according to arrest docs

The sister also said she believed the victim was being pressured by their parents, as well as another sister, not to speak with police.

Child abuse researchers say family or community support for an accused abuser can occur in cases involving grooming.

According to Michigan State University, people who abuse children often groom not just their victims, but also families and entire communities. This can help them build a reputation as trustworthy, making it more likely that others will defend them or doubt accusations. The research also shows that when a community or family has been groomed in this way, people may support the accused and disbelieve allegations of abuse.

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