Man accused of sexually assaulting, kidnapping toddler arrested

Toddler found safe in Dallas Oct. 1 after AMBER alert

SAN ANTONIO – A San Antonio man, who authorities said kidnapped a 14-month-old toddler and took her to the Dallas area, has been arrested after a nearly three-week long manhunt.

The child was found safe hours after an AMBER Alert was issued Oct. 1, according to a previous media release from the Bexar County Sheriff's Office.

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Fortino Cornejo, 51, faces first-degree felony charges of sexual performance by a child and aggravated kidnapping.

He turned himself in at the Central Magistrate's Office around 1:30 p.m. Friday.

According to an arrest warrant for Cornejo obtained by The Defenders, the suspect took the child from a San Antonio-area home Sept. 28.

The victim's mother reported the child missing Sept. 30, and said she received a lewd text message from Cornejo with a picture showing the child's private area.

The mother also told investigators that Cornejo had previously said he is "sexually attracted to children" and had watched child pornography on his phone.