Two individuals in West Palm Beach are facing serious charges after a seven-year-old girl disclosed enduring repeated sexual assaults to her babysitter. The West Palm Beach Police Department confirmed the arrests yesterday of Josue D. Mendez-Sales, 26, and Pablo N. Cobon-Mendez, 23, following a disturbing revelation by a child in their care. According to CBS12, the young girl detailed to her caretaker and later to police investigators that both suspects had sexually assaulted her numerous times.
Arrested and booked into the Palm Beach County Jail, Mendez-Sales is charged with five counts of sexual battery on a person less than 12 years of age and child abuse for striking the child with a belt. Cobon-Mendez faces two counts of the same charge. WPBF reported that both men admitted to assaulting the child and claimed to have been intoxicated while committing the acts. Mendez-Sales even conceded to have ceased drinking in an attempt to avoid continuing the abuse.
Police Chief Tony Araujo during a press conference referenced Mendez-Sales’s relation to the victim which adds a layer of betrayal to the gravity of the crimes. The abuse reportedly occurred over the span of weeks, with details emerging only after the victim confided in her babysitters on Wednesday.
Both suspects currently remain in custody without the possibility of bond and have been ordered to not have contact with the victim. In the course of the investigation, it was discovered that Mendez-Sales had also physically disciplined the child using a belt, leading to additional child abuse charges. "Mendez-Sales also admitted that he struck the victim with a belt recently as a form of discipline," as explicitly stated in the court documents obtained by WPBF. Furthermore, it was noted that both men were not originally from the United States.
