SHEBOYGAN, WI (WHBL) - It does not matter if the crime allegedly occurred more than seven years ago; if it is serious enough charges can still be filed.
A former Sheboygan resident is facing just that in Sheboygan County Court, after prosecutors charged Pompeyo Moguel-Bonilla Tuesday with repeated sexual assault of a child.
According to the criminal complaint, Sheboygan Police began investigating the case after the victim contacted them last December.
With help of a Spanish translator, the victim described how Moguel-Bonilla allegedly sexually assaulted her several times a week between October of 2007 and February of 2008. That was when she was 15 and 16 years old.
The incidents occurred in her room at the home Moguel-Bonilla lived in on Erie Avenue in Sheboygan. She also lived there because Moguel-Bonilla’s brother was her husband, although the marriage at the time was only recognized in their culture.
She said the assaults ended when her husband caught his brother trying to assault her, and the two left the home to live with relatives in Milwaukee.
When asked why she did not report the assaults earlier, there were several reasons given. One was due to alleged threats Moguel-Bonilla made of ending her life if she told. Also, a counselor she had been seeing told police the victim did not understand how to report such a crime until after she realized the severity of the situation. It was found out that the victim did tell a Planned Parenthood nurse in 2011 or 2012, but no follow up was done.
It was not until last week when Sheboygan Police found Moguel-Bonilla living in Kewaskum that they were able to talk to him about the allegations. When interviewed, he reportedly denied any sexual contact towards the victim. He also claims the victim was the one who would try to kiss and be playful with him, but he would pull away.
Moguel-Bonilla was given a 50-thousand dollars cash bond, and he now faces up to 60 years in jail if found guilty of the charge.