The Carolina Prosecutor's Office filed criminal charges against Yomarvin Morales Ayala, 40, for sexually assaulting and abusing a minor in the municipality of Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico Justice Secretary Lourdes L. Gómez Torres announced. According to the investigation, the crimes occurred between October 2020 and February 2024, when the victim was 10 years old; Morales Ayala allegedly committed sexual acts against her and intimidated her to prevent her from disclosing what happened.
Prosecutor Raiza Oliver Rodríguez of the Carolina Prosecutor's Specialized Unit filed 15 charges against the defendant for sexual assault, lewd acts, and child abuse under Articles 130(a), 131 and 133 of Puerto Rico's Penal Code, Article 59(a) of Law 246-2011, and Article 53(a) of Law 57-2023. Judge Rebecca Vera Ríos of the Carolina Court of First Instance found probable cause for arrest on all 15 charges and set bail at $1,125,000, which the defendant did not post; he was jailed.
A preliminary hearing was scheduled for October 7. The investigation was led by agent María de Lourdes Pagán of the Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Unit of Carolina's CIC.