Woman allegedly covered up for alleged child molester: ‘He is financially stable’

Police arrested a woman accused of interfering with a child sex assault investigation after a relative reported alleged sexual abuse to a crisis hotline.

Marisela Valenzuela-Guevara, 48, was charged with one count of intimidation of a witness and one count of resisting or obstructing and investigation.

EDITOR’S NOTE: ABC-7 is not revealing the child’s exact relation to the accused because it would identify the victim.

Doña Ana County Sheriff’s detectives say they were notified of the alleged incident from a social worker who took the victim’s call to KidTalk, a local hotline operated by La Piñon. It offers children a safe place to report anything from bullying to physical or sexual abuse.

According to detectives, Valenzuela-Guevara was uncooperative from the beginning of the investigation, saying she did not wish to pursue charges in the alleged abuse of her relative.

Police said Valenzuela-Guevara wished to protect the suspect in the incident because “he was a good provider and was financially stable.”

During questioning, the woman went on to say the incident happened over a year ago and “it only happened once.” When the child was offered victim services, Valenzuela-Guevara reportedly told a social worker she refused all services and that the child “didn’t need services.”

Valenzuela-Guevara and the child later went to the Child Crisis Center to report that the incident was “a bad dream” and recanted statements that had been made earlier.

The victim is currently in foster care, police said.

Valenzuela-Guevara was booked at the Doña Ana County Detention Center and was released the following day on a $2,500 secured bond.

Charges are pending against the suspect accused of sexually assaulting the victim.