An illegal immigrant with a history of sexual assaults and indecent exposures was arrested last week after attempting to abduct and rape a stranger on a trail in Herndon, Virginia. The attempted rape incident occurred just days after the illegal immigrant was released from jail.
The Herndon Police Department confirmed during a press conference last week that 31-year-old Denis Humberto Naverrette Romero had been charged with abduction with the intent of defiling and raping a stranger.
“Let me start by saying that I am incredibly saddened and outraged that a crime like this could happen here in the town of Herndon,” Herndon Police Chief Maggie DeBoard stated. “This is the only stranger rape that we have had in the town in my more than 12 years as chief of police.”
DeBoard added, “This kind of case not only impacts the victim directly, but impacts our entire community, especially when it occurs in a very public area that we consider safe and that is used by all of our residents and our visitors by our community on a daily basis.”
During last week’s press conference, DeBoard identified Romero as a Honduran national with a “documented history of both sexual assaults and exposures in the region” stretching back to 2022.
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According to DeBoard, law enforcement officials responded around 9 p.m. last Monday to an incident at the Washington & Old Dominion Railroad Regional Park after being notified of a woman who had allegedly just been raped. The victim claimed that Romero forced her to the ground and attempted to sexually attack her. However, the victim was able to fight the illegal immigrant off and run away from him to get help.
Police officers were able to locate and arrest Romero after the attempted rape incident, according to DeBoard. Romero currently remains in custody at the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center and is being held without bond.
DeBoard explained that law enforcement officials investigated Romero and discovered an extensive criminal history, leading them to believe there may be additional victims.
“What is disturbing is the number of times this individual has been arrested and released,” DeBoard said. “He has continued to re-offend, and his behavior has escalated to a rape in a very public area in our town last night.”
In a statement on X, formerly Twitter, Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R-Va.) shared his outrage toward the previous release of the illegal immigrant.
“I am heartsick for this victim and outraged that local Fairfax County officials recklessly release violent illegal immigrants who should have been prosecuted and deported. This is a dereliction of their most basic duty to keep people safe,” Youngkin tweeted.
