West Palm Beach, Fl — Two illegal aliens, Josue David Mendez-Sales, 26, and Pablo Neftaly Cobon-Mendez, 23, both from Guatemala, were arrested for the alleged gang rape of a seven-year-old girl at an apartment complex. The arrests have sparked intense public outcry and prompted Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier to call for the death penalty if the suspects are convicted.
The young victim confided in her babysitter, reporting that she had been sexually assaulted by Mendez-Sales and Cobon-Mendez, individuals she knew. Evidence of physical abuse was also found, with visible bruising on the child’s body, which she attributed to Mendez-Sales hitting her with a belt.
During police interviews, Cobon-Mendez admitted to molesting the girl approximately two weeks prior while under the influence of alcohol. He faces two counts of sexual battery on a child. Mendez-Sales confessed to sexually abusing the girl around five times over the past three months, also claiming intoxication and memory lapses, and now faces five counts of sexual battery on a child and one count of child abuse.
State Attorney General Uthmeier described the allegations as “beyond horrific,” emphasizing that “anyone who can commit such heinous crimes must be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.” He expressed his expectation that the State Attorney for the 15th Judicial Circuit would seek the death penalty for both suspects. West Palm Beach Police Chief Tony Araujo called the case “heinous,” and the investigation remains ongoing.
If convicted, both face the death penalty as a possibility under Florida law.
The case has fueled intense debate, with public outrage and support for severe punishment. The incident has drawn attention to the challenges of immigration enforcement, with critics pointing to the suspects’ status as illegal aliens as a failure of border security.
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