TOMBALL, Texas – A man accused of raping a teenager during what she thought was going to be a blessing has been arrested, detectives said.
Mario Munoz-Verudes, 60, has been charged with sexual assault. He was arrested Saturday and faced a judge.
Recommended Videos
With the help of an interpreter Munoz-Verudes he asked for the El Salvadorian consul be told about his arrest.
Tomball police said a 17-year-old girl told them that Munoz-Verudes, a friend of her family, told her that she looked sick and needed a blessing.
The teen is very religious and believed that Munoz-Verudes could bless her, investigators said.
Detectives said the teen went to Munoz-Verudes' home in the 1800 block of South Cherry on September 23 for the blessing.
She was taken to Munoz-Verudes' bedroom, where she saw two mattresses on the floor, a table, a TV, a cooking pot and other items, police said.
Munoz-Verudes lit incense in the pot, officials said.
Investigators said Munoz-Verudes put his hand over the teen's mouth and pushed her onto a mattress.
He then took some of her clothes off and raped her, police said.
The teen told Munoz-Verudes to stop and hit and kicked him, officials said.
Detectives said she did not think sexual intercourse would be part of the blessing she expected.
Munoz-Verudes told the teen that if she told anyone what happened he would put a curse on her, investigators said.
Munoz-Verudes is expected back in court Monday.