SAPD: Mexican national groped 14-year-old relative while she was sleeping

Arturo Val Depena, 35, is charged with attempted indecency with a child. Arturo Val Depena, 35, is charged with attempted indecency with a child. Photo: Bexar County Jail Photo: Bexar County Jail Image 1 of / 50 Caption Close SAPD: Mexican national groped 14-year-old relative while she was sleeping 1 / 50 Back to Gallery

A Mexican citizen arrested Thursday is accused of groping a 14-year-old girl he's related to, according to San Antonio police.

Arturo Val Depena, who is in Bexar County jail on an immigration detainer and charged with attempted indecency with a child, is accused of groping the girl while she was sleeping, according to an arrest affidavit.

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The girl reported the alleged assault on March 22. She told police that she was spending the night at Depena's house, where he lives with his wife and 2-year-old daughter, according to the affidavit.

While the girl was sleeping on the couch next to her brother, Depena allegedly put a blanket over her before reaching into her shirt.

The girl told police she pushed his hand away, and that Depena stood over her for a moment before walking away.

The girl told her mother the next morning and she called police.

Police sought to arrest Depena without bond because he's a Mexican national and they feared he may have fled to Mexico, according to the affidavit.

Fares Sabawi covers crime in San Antonio and Bexar County. Read him on our breaking news site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com | fsabawi@mysa.com | @FaresInSA