Trial begins for man, 60, accused of raping 12-year-old girl [View all]

A jury trial began Monday for
Robert Serrano, 60, accused of posing as a 17-year-old boy during online discussions with a 12-year-old Santa Fe girl and then raping her at least twice a few months later.

The two began flirting online and became “online boyfriend and girlfriend,” exchanging sexual messages, Deputy District Attorney Haley Murphy said. Serrano became jealous and controlling of the girl’s online activity and started communicating with her mother using the name “Pastor Marco.” By September of that year, Murphy said, Serrano had “inserted himself into her life in real time” and “appeared at her house and began staying there.”

Police and agents from the New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Department visited the child’s home the morning of Oct. 5, 2017, the report said; the girl answered the door scantily clad and Serrano was sleeping on the floor. The child told investigators she’d been “dating” Serrano and had sexual intercourse with him at a park the month before and in his vehicle the night before.

The girl’s mother told police Serrano was there to “help her keep her 12-year-old daughter from running away from home,” according to the report.
Serrano is charged with two counts of criminal sexual penetration of a child under 13, which each carries a maximum penalty of 18 years in prison.

https://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/local_news/trial-begins-for-los-lunas-man-accused-of-catfishing-raping-12-year-old-girl/article_d3dd4846-1fa8-11ec-97e0-633c5889d762.html