'Unspeakable Crime': Man Arrested for Alleged Abduction, Sexual Assault of 13-Year-Old

LAWRENCE, MA — A suspect was arrested in connection with the alleged sexual assault of a 13-year-old Thursday morning in Lawrence, according to the Essex County District Attorney's office.

The man, 21-year-old Angel Mateo, will be arraigned Friday in Lawrence District Court on sexual assault charges, the DA's office said.

Lawrence Mayor Dan Rivera called the crime "unspeakable."

"This crime is unspeakable and we have to do all possible to protect our most vulnerable citizens," he said in a statement.

According to the Lawrence Police Department, the teenager is a local middle school student who reported she was grabbed from behind and forcibly carried to a nearby apartment, where she was repeatedly sexually assaulted.

The victim told police she was held against her will for more than two hours before being released, at which point she reached the school and called her mother. Her mother then called police.

Her description of the man and the apartment led officers to Mateo, who is facing charges of kidnapping and aggravated statutory rape.

Rivera said in the statement "no immediate or continuing threat to the public or school children exists."

Rivera also said Mateo was on pre-trial probation, had an ankle bracelet, and lived near the school, but was not a sex offender.

Here is the statement Rivera released Thursday evening:

There is no accounting for what happened today with the assault of a young student on their way to school. After the young student was able to get away from their assailant the student and the family called the police and our officers, including a new female officer straight out of the academy, with members of the detectives division responded immediately and did a great job of securing the scene and beginning the investigation.

The victim was able to provide police with information that lead to the capture and arrest of Angel Mateo (21 year old). As of right now the person we believe did this is off the street and no immediate or continuing threat to the public or school children exists.

There is no connection between this and the incident on Merrimack St. That incident looks less like a random rape and more like a prostitution transaction gone bad.

I will say that Mr. Mateo was on pre-trial probation, with an ankle bracelet and lived near the school. He was not a sex offender. I am sure that the courts have done a thorough job of vetting who gets to be on release with an ankle bracelet. I think to be safe, and in an abundance of caution I am asking our police department to gather a list of everyone in our community on an ankle bracelet. We will review the list and see what level of threat our police believe them to be, and also see if they live near or around any schools. Once we do that the Chief and I can communicate our concern to the state, county & federal court and corrections authorities the importance of getting as many dangerous criminals out of our neighborhoods and kept in prison.

This crime is unspeakable and we have to do all possible to protect our most vulnerable citizens.

Patch will update this story.