LCPD: Couple arrested in teen sex assault case; woman failed to alert authorities

Police arrested a man accused of sexually assaulting a teenager over the past two years.

The man’s girlfriend was also arrested because she allegedly failed to report the allegations to police.

39-year-old Sigmund Gomez and 35-year-old Sara Ybarra were both arrested on Tuesday, May 14, 2019.

Gomez is charged with eight felony counts of criminal sexual penetration of a minor and four felony counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor. Ybarra is charged with a felony count of child abuse and a misdemeanor count of failing to report child abuse.

Police learned of the allegations on April 12, 2019. The sexual assault had been occurring for at least two years, police said.

Investigators learned the teenager told Ybarra that Gomez had been sexually assaulting her.

Instead of calling for help, police said, Ybarra ripped off the teenager’s and threw her to the floor in front of Gomez. Ybarra forced the teenager to leave the house, police said.

Police said the teenager is now in custody of a relative.

Gomez and Ybarra were booked into the Dona Ana County Detention Center where both are initially being held without bond.