Sunland Park Man Held In Juarez On Multiple Charges Of Rape

JUAREZ – A Sunland Park man has been arrested on rape charges in Juarez, but his family has said Mexican authorities have the wrong man.

Investigators said Gustavo Haro, 32, is responsible for at least eight rapes in Juarez. Some of the rape cases involve girls as young as 13 years old,they said.

Haro is currenty being held at the CeReSo prison. “He is classified as a serial rapist for rape cases dating back to August 2006,” one police investigator said.

ABC 7 spoke with the suspect’s father, Jorge, who had been waiting all day at the prison for any word concerning his son. “I know he can be drunk and many other things, but he is not a rapist,” the elder Haro said.

Authorities say because the charges being brought against him are so severe, there is no chance of him bonding out, police said.

Meanwhile, Jorge Haro said he can prove his son wasn’t involved in any of the crimes. He disputes the picture ofa suspect publishedin a Juarez newspaper is his son.

Harosaid the situationis taking a toll on his family. “My family is destroyed by this. Morale is on the floor, at an ultimate low,” he said.

Gustavo Haro has been scheduled to appear before a judge on Tuesday. The judge will then decide if the evidence against him is enough to proceed to trial.

If convicted, Haro could spend a maximum of 20 years in prison.

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By Ken Molestina, Miguel Martinez and Kevin Pytcher