New Development in Menlo College Student’s Alleged Assault Case
A student at Menlo College, Andres Manuel Aguilar, who is accused of raping a 12-year-old girl in a dorm room, may have a new victim according to prosecutors.
This week, a court hearing for the 19-year-old was postponed as police look into the possibility of another victim among students. San Mateo County District Attorney Steve Wagstaff announced that the hearing is now set for August 27.
As of Thursday, Aguilar had not yet entered a plea.
The district attorney’s office reports that the initial allegations state Aguilar gave his phone number to the victim when they first crossed paths at a traffic stop in Menlo Park. He later convinced her to meet on May 5.
Investigators revealed that the victim allegedly claimed to be 17; however, Aguilar confessed to the police that he knew she was actually a minor.
Prosecutors assert that he took the girl to a store where he purchased alcohol, after which they returned to his dorm room on campus. There, the girl reportedly drank alcohol and smoked marijuana prior to the alleged assault.
Surveillance footage from the dormitory showed them entering Aguilar’s apartment and later, the victim leaving.
Authorities maintain that Aguilar forcibly removed the victim’s pants despite her repeated objections. Court documents indicate that he ordered emergency contraception via DoorDash due to concerns about a possible pregnancy.
Aguilar, who resides in San Jose, is currently in custody without bail, facing multiple serious charges, including aggravated sexual assault of a child and providing marijuana to a minor under 14.
If found guilty, he could potentially be sentenced to life in prison.
Wagstaff emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating, “When a child is under 13, society treats it more seriously. The penalties are much higher. There’s never any argument that the child could have consented to it in any way. When you’re dealing with a 12-year-old, it becomes really serious.”
Meanwhile, Menlo College, known for its small, tight-knit community of around 810-880 students, issued a statement underscoring their commitment to addressing any allegations of misconduct with great seriousness.
