Hidalgo County Sheriff: Man Arrested on Charge of Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child

Staff Report

Edinburg, TX – A Hidalgo County Sheriff’s deputy arrested a 29-year-old man early Nov. 27 after a traffic stop in rural Edinburg led investigators to determine that a juvenile passenger had been sexually assaulted, according to the sheriff’s office.

The deputy conducted the stop at about 12:38 a.m. near Monte Cristo Road and 83rd Road in rural Edinburg, where the driver of a black GMC SUV was identified as Marco Antonio Mejia. A male juvenile was seated in the front passenger seat. During interviews at the scene, the deputy determined the juvenile was a child and the victim of a sexual assault.

Mejia was taken into custody and charged with aggravated sexual assault of a child, a first-degree felony. His bond was set at $1 million.

Preliminary findings indicate the suspect and the victim met through the social media platform Snapchat. Sheriff J.E. “Eddie” Guerra urged parents and guardians to remain alert to their children’s online activity, noting that families should monitor social platforms closely and discuss online safety.

The investigation remains ongoing.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office at 956-383-8114. Anonymous tips may be submitted to Crime Stoppers at 956-668-TIPS (8477) or through the P3 TIPS smartphone application.

Source — Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office.