A San Antonio pediatrician was arrested on Friday and now faces an aggravated sexual assault charge after a juvenile patient reported he had been abused. Gabriel Perez, 50, was taken into custody at his home without incident, officers said. Detectives with the San Antonio Police Department's Special Victims Unit say they believe there may be additional victims in the case.
According to KSAT, detectives arrested Perez on Friday on a charge of aggravated sexual assault of a child after receiving the initial complaint. Investigators say that report prompted interviews and evidence gathering that led to an arrest warrant. Officers then arrested Perez at his residence without further incident, the station reported.
As reported by San Antonio Express-News, investigators described the child as between 10 and 16 years old and said he told his parents about the alleged assault. Detectives told the outlet that Perez's statements to investigators corroborated the victim's account. The newspaper also noted that authorities have not publicly named Perez's employer.
WOAI reported that Perez appears in an online staff directory for CentroMed as a physician at the SA Pediatrics Sorrento Plaza clinic, although police have not confirmed his employer. The CentroMed staff page lists a Gabriel Perez at the Sorrento Plaza location.
Detectives are urging anyone with information or who believes they may have been affected to contact SAPD’s Special Victims Unit. The city's information page lists the unit's phone line at (210) 207-2313 during business hours. The department is leading the investigation and has asked the public to come forward with tips or records that could help identify additional victims or witnesses.
What the charge means
Aggravated sexual assault of a child is charged under Texas Penal Code §22.021 and is classified as a first degree felony, as per Statutes. A conviction typically carries a punishment range of five to 99 years or life in prison, and the statute sets tougher mandatory minimum sentences in certain cases involving child victims. The offense also requires sex offender registration and brings other long term consequences if there is a conviction.
How to report or get help
If you believe you or a child may have been harmed, call 911 in an emergency, contact SAPD’s Special Victims Unit at (210) 207-2313, or report suspected abuse to the Texas Abuse Hotline at 1-800-252-5400. Guidance from the Texas Department of State Health Services and the SAPD information page lists those contacts and explains who is required to report under state law. Authorities say even older records or tips can be useful to investigators and urge people to come forward.
