By PETE BANDA 
Staff Writer
Reporter@sbnewspaper.com
Santa Rosa resident Fernando Esquivel was arraigned in San Benito Friday morning on a case that police are calling, “The sickest they have ever seen.”
The 29-year-old, who is being accused by a relative, was arraigned on three felony charges Friday: aggravated sexual assault of a child (first degree felony,) continuous sexual abuse of a child (first degree felony,) and indecency with a child (second degree felony). Judge Lupe Ayala set three separate bonds totaling $1.15 million, citing the heinous natures of the crime as the reason for the substantial amount.
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Dude, you need to read the article again objectively (dealing with facts or conditions without distortion by personal feelings, prejudices, or interpretations).
Nowhere in the article did the Staff Writer, Pete Banda, report that the SRPD conducted the investigation. The alleged
pervertperpetrator was arrested by SRPD arresting officer Juan De La Rosa based on an arrest warrant requested by the SBPD and granted by San Benito JP Lupe Ayala based on “physical evidence” and interviews with medical personnel from the VBMC. The only involvement of the SRPD was arresting Mr. Esquivel.You ask a lot of questions (custody issue, extramarital affair, etc) which carry no weight or relevance regarding the three felony counts. Failing to arrest him with the evidence presented would submit the child to additional abuse; which should not be an option. The safety of a child is paramount when it involves allegations of aggravated and continuous sexual abuse.
All parties involved (the mother, representatives from Maggie’s House, the VBMC medical personnel, JP Lupe Ayala, the SRPD, and the SBPD) did exactly as they were trained to react.
I agree that Mr. Esquivel is “innocent until proven guilty” and will answer to it in time (when he meets his new cellmate Guido).
“The sickest they have ever seen? that is the comment by the SRPD on this case? How can a department make such a comment when they haven’t properly investigated the allegation? From what source tell me, the outcry was made on a Wednesday and then an arrest on Friday? Boy, SRPD must have a helluva investigator? Based on the time frame of the arrest, the investigator is taking the word of the victim at face value. It doesn’t sound like there is evidence to support the allegation because if there was, its a witness to the incident. And I doubt that! If there is physical evidence, then I’d like to know what lab did the examination and testing because it takes at least six to a year for the DPS lab to conduct their testing and results. Was the victim’s allegations consistent or inconsistent when being interviewed at Maggie’s House? Did Mr. Esquivel give a confession? SRPD is known for sloppy investigations and more so since Chief Martinez ousting. I know that he would have given Mr. Esquivel a proper investigation.
Did the investigator see if there is a custody issue involved with this allegation? What’s the relationship between the mother and Mr. Esquivel? Did the allegations arise after Mr. Esquivel started up a relationship with another female?
Without a proper investigation, Mr. Esquivel’s life is ruined and he is now at the mercy of the CC District Attorney’s office who appear to be about winning and getting convictions even if it is a plea bargain. This will cost Mr. Esquivel a lot of money to prove his innocence and even if he is cleared, will have this on his record. I am aware that these type of cases occur but they need to be properly investigated because it is easy to make an allegation especially when it comes to custody issues or relationship issues. If he is guilty, then only Mr. Esquivel will answer to it in time.
This is indeed a heinous crime that should be exposed in the newspaper. However, naming the daughter as the accuser is completely unnecessary and harmful to the victim. It won’t take long for this victim’s classmates to find out about this, which will cause her great pain once again. Shouldn’t cases like this give the victim some anonymity so she can live a life as normal as possible?
Luke 17:2 “It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.” Words from God.