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INSIDER

SEXUAL ASSAULT

Rape kits of deceased victims not mandated to be tracked in Texas; new bill aims to change that

SAN ANTONIO – In Texas, it is not mandatory for rape kits to be traced if a victim has died. It’s a surprising gap in the law that a state senator and Texas families say they won’t allow to continue. For the past four years, pain and anger have pushed Matheson to advocate for sexual assault victims. The bill would mandate tracked rape kits of deceased victims. Texas is one of many states across the nation dealing with backlogs in the processing of rape kits.

Sex assault case dismissed against ex-Viva Tacoland bartender

SAN ANTONIO – A former Viva Tacoland bartender accused in 2018 of sexually assaulting two women after serving them drinks has been cleared of criminal wrongdoing in the case, court records and attorneys representing the man confirm. The sexual assault case against Dillonger Hackett was dismissed Oct. 2 due to insufficient evidence, records show. Viva Tacoland responds after bartender accused of sexually assaulting 2 customersOne of the women told investigators she had partial memories of Hackett showering in their hotel room and Hackett sexually assaulting her. Former Viva Tacoland bartender Dillonger Hackett has been cleared of criminal wrongdoing in a case where he was accused in 2018 of sexually assaulting two women after serving them drinks. Court records confirm Hackett was never indicted by a grand jury in the March 2018 case.

SAPD: Man sexually assaulted child with mental deficiency, giving her STD

SAN ANTONIO – A 25-year-old man has been arrested after San Antonio police say he sexually assaulted a child with a mental deficiency and gave her an STD. Jesus Gutierrez was arrested Saturday and charged with super aggravated sexual assault of a child, a first-degree felony, online court records show. An arrest affidavit states Gutierrez told police he was lying in bed with the child and that he had gonorrhea. According to the affidavit, he confessed to sexually assaulting the child. RELATED: Affidavit: Man picked girl up in his SUV before sexually assaulting her

Affidavit: SAPD officer told woman that police wouldn’t believe her after rape

SAN ANTONIO – A San Antonio police officer told a 22-year-old woman that police wouldn’t believe her after he sexually assaulted her, according to arrest records. An arrest affidavit is providing more details about the alleged assault on Friday that led to the arrest of Officer Humberto Zuniga, an 18-year-veteran of SAPD. The affidavit states Zuniga and the woman had known each other over the past several months, and they had met through a dating website. The woman agreed to meet Zuniga at his apartment and they began to dance and drink together, the arrest affidavit states. Zuniga told the woman not to call the police “because no one would believe her,” the affidavit states.

18-year San Antonio PD veteran arrested after report of sexual assault, officials say

SAN ANTONIO – An 18-year veteran of the San Antonio Police Department’s Central Patrol was arrested after a woman reported he had sex with her without her consent, officials said Wednesday night. Officers responded to a call for sexual assault on the South Side on Saturday. Police said a woman who Officer Humberto Zuniga had known for the past several months called 911 and reported that Zuniga had sex with her without consent. The victim told police she stopped Zuniga after grabbing a knife and cutting his arm, officials said. When officers arrived at the scene, Zuniga was identified, questioned and later arrested after a warrant was issued.

Nonprofit helps with healing by transforming rooms of child abuse victims

FBI program uses public’s help to fight child sex abuseTheir case is ongoing, but the mother wanted to share their story to help other children. Room Redux anonymously transforms the rooms of children who have faced physical or sexual abuse in one day. “We get our referrals from counselors, CPS caseworkers, communities, schools, law enforcement,” said Room Redux CEO Susie Vybiral. Room Redux started in 2017 and now has chapters all over the country. If you want to request a room transformation, sign up to volunteer or learn more about the nonprofit, head to the Room Redux website.

Man enters home through window then sexually assaults child, SAPD says

SAN ANTONIO – A San Antonio man was charged with aggravated sexual assault of a child Wednesday after investigators said he entered a child’s bedroom through an unlocked window then sexually assaulted her. Jason Ramos, 18, was taken into custody around 5:15 a.m., after a witness found Ramos in bed with the girl and called 911, according to preliminary information released by San Antonio Police officials. Ramos and the girl met online and she agreed to unlock her window, SAPD officials said. Booking records show Ramos was magistrated Wednesday afternoon and a judge set his bond at $75,000. Additional details about the case were not available since it is a crime involving a minor.

Man claims daughter with Down syndrome was raped at adult day care center

SAN ANTONIO – The father of a woman who has Down syndrome says someone at a South Side adult day care facility violently sexually assaulted his daughter. The father, who KSAT is not identifying due to the nature of the case, said the home care provider who picks up his daughter from the adult day care center alerted him to an issue after bathing her last Thursday. “As the doctor was checking (my daughter), he said, ‘She’s been molested.’ So between the day care center and here, that’s the only place she went,” the father said. A KSAT crew went to the South Side adult day care -- which we are not naming the facility since no charges have been filed -- with the police report and questions. He said he will not ever take his daughter back to the adult day care center.

Woman tells of frightening late-night encounter with accused ‘Medical Center rapist'

“I saw this male all of a sudden pop up out of the big bush that was there,” Kimberly Perez testified. Perez’s description of the man who startled her matched the one given by the rape victim. The victim’s description combined with video from a nearby gas station and DNA evidence led to Harris’ arrest. Harris was 17 years old and had just graduated from Marshall High School when he was arrested. The victim of the rape for which Harris is on trial is expected to testify when the trial resumes.

Jury selection begins in ‘Medical Center rapist’ case after plea deal struck down by judge

SAN ANTONIO – Jury selection began Tuesday in the case of the so-called Medical Center rapist. Anton Harris is accused of terrorizing the Medical Center area for about two years and committing five sexual assaults. Alleged Medical Center rapist claimed innocence after accepting plea deal, judge says[HI1]Last August, Harris pleaded guilty to five counts of sexual assault as part of a plea deal. But Judge Frank Castro rejected the plea deal, sending the case to trial. Harris is now facing the possibility of life in prison on each charge instead of the 40-year sentence he would have gotten from the plea deal.