EL SALVADOR IMMIGRANT ACCUSED OF CHILD SEX CRIMES IN WICHITA FALLS, BAIL LOWERED
September 29, 2019
Trish Choate
Times Record News
A man from El Salvador -- who allegedly fled Texas when three children reported that he sexually abused them at his Wichita Falls home -- successfully sought a reduced bail Friday in 78th District Court.
Juan Jose Medrano, 61, of Wichita Falls was still being held Sunday in Wichita County Jail on $125,000 in bonds -- lowered from $350,000, according to jail and court records.
Medrano is a permanent resident with permission to work in the United States, according to court records and testimony.
Earlier this year, allegations of the sexual abuse of a 4-year-old girl, a 6-year-old girl and a 13-year-old girl came to light, according to court records for four of the five charges against Medrano.
"I really don't like talking about this," the 6-year-old said before shutting down during a forensic interview at Patsy's House Children's Advocacy Center, according to court records.
The Wichita Falls police detective who filed arrest warrant affidavits on the charges against Medrano requested a federal detainer from Immigration and Customs Enforcement, according to court records.
Bond hearing witness: Heard someone was 'talking about beating him up'
Testimony during Medrano's bond hearing indicated there was no ICE hold on him.
Medrano is charged with four counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child under 14 and one count of indecency with a child under 17, court and jail records showed. The time frame for the allegations dates back to 2010-11, 2016 and 2018.
If convicted, Medrano faces up to life in prison.
Presiding Judge Jim Hogan granted a bond reduction after the hearing Friday afternoon.
During the hearing, bail bondsman Maxie "Maxx" Green and two members of Medrano's family testified in support of his quest for a lower bail.
Green testified that Medrano has no criminal history, and his family could not put up the premium -- usually 10 percent -- required for a $350,000 bail.
But his family could afford $100,000, according to Green's testimony.
Medrano's brother-in-law testified that he heard Medrano went to California because someone was "talking about beating him up," and that his character is "pretty good."
Medrano's mother was also in the hospital, according to the brother-in-law.
Medrano has seven grandchildren, the brother-in-law testified.
Wichita County Assistant District Attorney Dobie Kosub produced documentation of a misdemeanor case of hit and run:death or injury against Medrano in California.
Wichita Falls defense attorney Bob Estrada argued that could be someone else with the same name.
Prosecutor: 'He fled to California'
Kosub offered police affidavits detailing the accusations against Medrano for the judge to look over.
"State's exhibits show that upon learning of these charges, he fled to California," Kosub said.
What's more, Medrano has relatives in California and is from El Salvador, the prosecutor said.
Estrada noted that Medrano came back to Wichita Falls to face the charges.
Medrano was booked into Wichita County Jail on Aug. 19, according to jail records.
After the hearing Friday, Hogan set conditions for Medrano's release: He is to reside at his family home in Wichita Falls, shall not initiate or have contact with any child under 18, must wear a GPS ankle monitor and report to Wichita County adult probation officials 10 a.m. every Monday.
What are the details of the accusations?
Wichita Falls police affidavits gave this account: On March 25, a detective was investigating the possible sexual abuse of a 5-year-old.
The child's mother told her that her 13-year-old daughter had disclosed that Medrano had molested her when she was 5.
The detective met with the mother who said the molestation came to light after her 4-year-old niece disclosed she was sexually abused by Medrano.
During a forensic interview at Patsy's House, the 13-year-old said, "When I was little, I don't really know how old I was, uh, [Medrano] touched me in an inappropriate way."
She described sitting on his lap while he touched her "private part" with his hand.
As a result of this outcry, Medrano was charged with indecency with a child younger than 17 sometime between April 20, 2010, and April 30, 2011.
Also on March 25, a mother reported to the detective that her 6-year-old daughter has been molested by Medrano since she was around 4- or 5-years old.
During a forensic interview at Patsy's House, the 6-year-old girl disclosed that Medrano puts her on his lap and fondles her sexually.
The assaults are alleged to have happened on or around Jan. 1, 2016.
Also on March 25, the detective received information that Medrano sexually molested a 4-year-old.
During a forensic interview at Patsy's House, the 4-year-old said that Medrano "kept kissing" her on her private parts after she had taken a bath on two separate occasions.
Her mother had given her a bath, left her on a bed in Medrano's bedroom and then left the room to go get her some clothes. Medrano came in and sexually assaulted her.
The alleged assaults took place in January 2018.
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