A Lawrence, Massachusetts, man is facing kidnapping and rape charges after he allegedly grabbed a 13-year-old who was walking to school and sexually assaulted the child.
According to Lawrence Police, the teen was dragged into an apartment and sexually assaulted on Thursday morning while walking to South Lawrence East Middle School. Police have not released the child's gender.
Angel Mateo, 21, of Phillips St., is charged with kidnapping and aggravated statutory rape. He is set to be arraigned Friday in Lawrence District Court.
Mateo was restricted to the area. Police say he had a GPS ankle bracelet for pre-trial probation, but was not a sex offender.
Police said they received a call at 10:17 a.m. for a report of an abduction and sexual assault. The student told police they were walking to school in the area of Boxford and Phillips streets when they were grabbed from behind by an unknown man and forcibly carried into a nearby apartment, where the sexual assault occurred.
The victim said the suspect held them captive for over two hours before finally releasing them. The teen eventually made it to school and was able to contact their mother. The mother then called police. The child provided police with information leading to Mateo's arrest.
The victim was treated at a local medical facility and has since been released, police said.
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The suspect's landlord says Mateo lives with his mom and another woman. He says he asked the tenants to move out over excessive noise.
