LOGAN — A 23-year-old man is in jail after police alleged he provided alcohol to a 14-year-old girl and raped her repeatedly. Ernesto Alonso Barrera-Zarco was booked Thursday into the Cache County Jail after a warrant was issued for his arrest.
According to the arrest affidavit, Logan City Police officers received a report of the sexual offense in March. The victim claimed that she and another teenage girl arranged to meet Barrera, who agreed to provide them alcohol.
After picking the girls up March 6, Barrera and another man drove to a local convenience store, where he purchased beer. They then went to a local hotel and rented a room.
During a forensic interview at the Children’s Justice Center, the victim explained to investigators how she had told Barrera that she didn’t want to do anything with him. She reportedly fell asleep and later woke up as the suspect was raping her, according to the affidavit.
The other girl told investigators that Barrera raped her six times. She described how the victim was crying and telling him to stop.
After the alleged assault, Barrera admitted to an acquaintance that he had sex with the girl after providing her alcohol. He said that he was in trouble and going to leave the area, change his car and phone number.
A sexual assault exam was also completed and showed the victim had bruising on parts of her body. A DNA analysis was also submitted to the Utah State Crime Lab.
A judge issued a warrant for Barrera’s arrest June 1. He was captured and transported back to Cache Valley June 30.
When police interviewed him, Barrera reportedly admitted to having sex at a Logan hotel with the alleged victim in March. He claimed that he was suspicious of her age but she told him she was 22-years-old, the affidavit explained.
Court records show, Barrera has been charged with rape, a first-degree felony; forcible sexual abuse, a second-degree felony; and furnishing alcohol to a minor, a class A misdemeanor. He is being held in jail without bail pending a formal arraignment in 1st District Court.
Individuals arrested and charged in complaints are presumed innocent unless or until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.