ST. CLOUD, Fla. – A mother and her boyfriend were arrested after a 7-year-old girl reported she had been sexually assaulted, according to the St. Cloud Police Department.
In a release, police said the girl told caseworkers with the Department of Children and Families that she had been sexually assaulted for over a year by Jose Tolentino, 40.
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Tolentino is the boyfriend of 29-year-old Peaches Laws, the girl’s mother, the release says.
In addition to the sexual assault, the girl told investigators that Laws and other family members were aware of the crime — but they hadn’t reported them to law enforcement, detectives explained.
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In fact, the girl was told “not to tell the police officers because her and (redacted) would get in trouble and that they would never see them again,” an arrest affidavit reads.
As a result, Tolentino and Laws were taken into custody, and a search warrant was obtained for their home, according to police.
Tolentino faces charges of sexual battery against a victim under 12 years of age, and battery of a child by throwing certain fluids or materials. He is held on no bond.
Meanwhile, Laws faces charges of child neglect and hindering communications to law enforcement. She is held on no bond.
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