Man arrested after sexually assaulting teen for several years, San Antonio police say

Victim was 14 at time of first assault, officials say

Mark Anthony Cardenas (KSAT)

SAN ANTONIO – A man was arrested after sexually assaulting a 17-year-old girl for several years in San Antonio and Del Rio, according to San Antonio police.

Officers wrote in an arrest affidavit that Mark Anthony Cardenas, 22, began sexually abusing the girl in 2018 when the victim was only 14-years-old.

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Officers responded to a welfare check on May 23 after it was reported Cardenas had sexually abused the girl.

The victim began feeling sick in April 2020, suspecting she was pregnant, according to the affidavit. She gave birth to her son, who she said is the result of being sexually assaulted by Cardenas, in December 2020.

Police said the victim was sexually assaulted by Cardenas multiple times throughout her pregnancy.

Cardenas is charged with sexual assault of a child, a second-degree felony. His bond is set at $75,000.


About the Author:

Emily Martin is the KSAT Insider Membership Producer. She earned a journalism degree from Texas State University, where she was news director at KTSW, the campus radio station. She has also interned at KXAN and KUT in Austin.