The bail of a Haitian man accused of raping a 15-year-old at a hotel that was being used as an emergency shelter for migrant families in Rockland, Massachusetts, in March will not be reduced.
Cory Alvarez’s request to have his bail reduced from $150,000 to $500 has been denied by a Supreme Judicial Court justice on Tuesday. As a result, Alvarez will remain in state custody, as federal authorities continue their efforts to deport him.
“The defendant is facing an imminent deportation order, which he has not contested in any way. It seems that if he is released on bail, the Federal authorities will promptly remove him from the country. Given these circumstances, the judge correctly determined that it was necessary to detain him until the trial by setting bail at a higher amount than what he could afford,” Justice Serge Georges Jr. explained in his response to Alvarez’s request for lower bail.
Plymouth District Attorney Timothy Cruz expressed his satisfaction with the decision, stating, “We are pleased with this outcome and will proceed with the prosecution of this case. Our primary objective is to seek justice for the child victim, while also ensuring that both the victim and Alvarez have their fair day in court.”
Alvarez’s court appearance is scheduled for next Tuesday.
On March 13, Alvarez was apprehended by authorities on allegations of sexually assaulting a teenager at the Comfort Inn located on Hingham Street. The Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office has stated that he has been indicted by a grand jury on charges of aggravated rape of a child with a significant age difference and rape of a child through the use of force.
According to prosecutors, the Comfort Inn has been participating in a government program aimed at providing housing for migrant families.
Resources for victims of sexual assault are available through the National Sexual Violence Resources Center and the National Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline at 800-656-4673, and Massachusetts provides this list of statewide and resources for sexual assault survivors.
Federal immigration officials later apprehended Alvarez.
According to immigration attorney Carmen Bello, many individuals facing immigration issues are often deported before they can complete their criminal cases in the United States.
According to court documents, a 15-year-old girl staying at a Comfort Inn hotel in Rockland, Massachusetts, reported that she was sexually assaulted by a man in his room. As a result of her report, the man was arrested. The hotel is currently serving as a migrant shelter.