Sarasota Man Accused of Impregnating 13-Year-Old

SARASOTA, FL — A Sarasota man was arrested Wednesday night after police say they uncovered evidence that he’s the father of an unborn child whose mother is 13 years old.

According to Sarasota Police, Diego Vasquez-Vasquez, 26, was charged Nov. 2 with lewd and lascivious battery and child abuse/impregnation of a child under 16. He is accused of having an inappropriate encounter with the girl in July 2016.

Detectives say the full extent of the relationship between the two is not known at this time. The victim, however, told detectives that she and Vasquez-Vasquez “were boyfriend/girlfriend and were in love,” an email from the police department said.

The girl, who is not being identified, came to the United States from Guatemala about a year ago. Police say she attended school locally after the move, but “didn’t like it so she did not return.”

The case remains under active investigation at this time. Vazquez-Vasquez is being held in the Sarasota County Jail in lieu of $9,000 bond.

No further information is being released at this time.

Booking photo courtesy of the Sarasota Police Department