Father Of Rockville High School Rape Suspect Arrested By ICE

ROCKVILLE, MD — As questions about security at Montgomery County Schools continue in the wake of a student's reported rape in a boys' bathroom and the immigration status of two rape suspects is discussed from Rockville to the White House, federal immigration authorities say they have arrested the father of one of the suspects. Deportation proceedings have begun against the father, reports say, while an attorney says the suspect fled gang violence in his home country.

A 14-year-old girl was reportedly raped at Rockville High School March 16 by two students who are immigrants from Central America. Authorities have arrested Adolfo Sanchez-Reyes, 43, of Guatemala, for allegedly being unlawfully in the country, said Matthew Bourke with ICE in a statement. Sanchez-Reyes is the father of Henry Sanchez-Milian, 18, one of the two accused rape suspects.

Jose O. Montano, 17, of an unconfirmed address, and Sanchez-Milian, of Bel Pre Road in the Aspen Hill area, were charged with the rape, which happened during school hours. Montano has been charged as an adult.

Sanchez-Milian is originally from Guatemala and was attending the high school as a ninth-grader, reports WTOP. Court records say Sanchez-Milian arrived in Montgomery County seven months ago after having been questioned in Texas by border patrol agents in Texas and issued a notice to appear in front of an immigration judge. Montano has an undetermined immigration status.

Sanchez-Reyes’ attorney told WTOP that the Department of Homeland Security has “initiated removal proceedings” and that he is in DHS custody.

Andrew Jezic, the attorney for Sanchez Milian, told Bethesda Beat that the teen fled gang violence and "significant threats" to him and his family in Guatemala. He came to the U.S. to join his father, who was already in Montgomery County.

Rockville High School received two bomb threats last week in the wake of the assault and arrests. According to Montgomery County Police, a bomb threat was called in right before noon and another at around 1:30 p.m. on March 22. Schools spokeswoman Gboyinde Onijala told Montgomery Community Media the callers threatened to bomb the high school and bring guns to the school to shoot illegal immigrants.

The school's principal Billie-Jean Benson, asked police to come to the school, which was not evacuated, schools spokesman Derek Turner said.

See Related:

• (Update) Rockville High School Rape Suspects In Country Illegally: Authorities
• Girl Raped In Rockville High School Boys' Bathroom: Police
• 2 Bomb Threats Made To Rockville High School In Wake Of Rape Case

The reported sexual assault began about 9 a.m. Thursday, March 16, when the girl was walking in a school hallway and met Montano and Sanchez. According to police, Montano asked the victim to walk with him and Sanchez. Montano asked the victim to engage in sexual intercourse, and she refused.

According to the police report, Montano again asked the victim for sex, then forced her into a boys’ bathroom and then into a stall. Montano and Sanchez both raped the girl inside the bathroom stall, authorities charge.

The case has gained national attention, with White House press secretary Sean Spicer using it as an example as to why President Trump is focusing on illegal immigration.

"I think part of the reason that the president has made illegal immigration and crackdown such a big deal is because of tragedies like this," Spicer said, according to NBC. "We act so many times when we talk about this and say why is the president dealing with this, because of this priority. Well, part of the reason is because of the tragedy that this young girl dealt with, had inflicted upon her, whatever the word is, but this is why he is passionate about this."

According to NBC, Rockville High's principal, Benson, asked teachers to take attendance throughout each class period and keep track of how long students are out of class with a hall pass.

In an open letter on the school's website, Superintendent Jack Smith said school officials cannot share more information about the reported rape at this point, but he believes Montgomery County Police will release more details in coming weeks.