Photo: Omaha Police Department
(Omaha, NE) -- An Omaha man is arrested on child sexual assault allegations dating back two decades.
Earlier this week, 71 year old Hector Velazquez was arraigned on five counts of sexual assault of a child. The charges come following reports of sexual assault between 2001-2003 and between 2020-2021. Omaha Police say on January 25, 2022, their Child Victim's Unit launched an investigation into Velazquez with regard to a sexual assault of a child incident. Police say while detectives were investigating that incident, it was discovered that Velazquez was the suspect in another sexual assault of a child that occurred 19 years prior where charges had not been filed at the time.
OPD says the assigned detective was able to develop enough evidence to secure an arrest warrant for Velazquez for multiple offenses spanning both cases. Court documents show that three of the alleged incidents involved one child between January 2001 and June 2003. Two other incidents reportedly happened between May 2020 and October 2021.
On May 1st, Velazquez turned himself into police on the warrant. Velazquez is currently facing two counts of 3rd Degree Sexual Assault of a Child and three counts of 1st Degree Sexual Assault of a Child. Due to the time lapse in cases, detectives believe there may be additional victims who have not been identified at this time. Investigators say if you believe your child is a victim of child abuse, you are encouraged to call 911 or the Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-1999.
Velazquez's bail has been set at $400,000. He has a preliminary hearing set for June 3.