A Hollister man was arrested on felony sexual assault charges
for allegedly supplying drugs to a 14-year-old girl and then trying
to rape her in Briggs Alley.
A Hollister man was arrested on felony sexual assault charges for allegedly supplying drugs to a 14-year-old girl and then trying to rape her in Briggs Alley.
Antonio Avalos, 20, of Hollister was charged with one count each of attempted rape by use of drugs, persuading a child to commit a lewd act, furnishing drugs to a minor and being under the influence of a controlled substance, according to court records.
Avalos, who was arraigned by video Monday afternoon, is accused of plying a 14-year-old girl with a combination of marijuana and methamphetamines so that he could force her to have sex with him, police said.
Avalos was arrested Thursday at about 9 p.m. when a police officer who was patrolling the downtown area reportedly spotted him in Briggs Alley just east of Line Street, according to court records.
The police officer, who said he was suspicious of Avalos’ behavior, got out of his car to talk to him. As he approached Avalos, the officer could just make out the shape of a young girl cowering near a fence, police said.
Avalos, whose pants were unbuttoned and unzipped, reportedly tried to block the officer’s view of the girl by standing in front of her, according to court records.
When other police officers arrived, Avalos was evaluated and arrested for being under the influence of drugs.
With Avalos gone, the girl, a Hollister resident whose name was not released because of her age, told police that he had tried to rape her, police said.
The girl told police that she had been hanging out with a couple of friends and Avalos, whom she did not know, and that Avalos gave her marijuana and methamphetamine to smoke, according to court records.
When her two friends left to go to a store, the 5-foot, 5-inch-tall Avalos allegedly began trying to kiss her, according to court records. She repeatedly told him “no” and tried to push Avalos away but he allegedly became more insistent and wrapped his arms around her, pushing her against a fence, according to court records.
As the girl struggled to break free, Avalos allegedly tried to forcefully remove her pants as he unbuttoned his own, according to court records.
Avalos and the girl reportedly continued to struggle until he saw the lights from the police car as it moved closer to them in the alley, according to court records.
After talking to police, the girl was taken to a hospital for a medical evaluation. She was also cited for being under the influence of a controlled substance, police said.
At the county jail, Avalos reportedly told police that he had not touched the girl in a sexual manner or given her drugs, according to court records. However, police said they found nearly two grams of marijuana in Avalos’ possession.
Avalos is being held in lieu of $100,000 bail and is scheduled to be in court for continued arraignment on Feb. 11 at 10 a.m.
