Nacogdoches Deputies Arrest Pair in Case Involving Sexual Assault of a Child

On June 20th, 2017, the Nacogdoches County Sheriff Office (NCSO) received a report of a sexual assault of a child. The child made an outcry to a family member who notified law enforcement of the assault.

Investigators with the Sheriff's Office took over the case and set up an interview with the child at Harold’s House in Nacogdoches County. A SANE exam and forensic interview were conducted at Harold’s House with the victim in the case who is younger than 14 years of age.

Investigators obtained probable cause during the investigation to issue an arrest warrant for Leonel Hernandez who was residing in Shelby County at the time. The suspect was arrested in Panola County on June 28th and was later transported to the Nacogdoches County jail for Aggravated Sexual Assault of a child.

During the investigation it was also revealed that the mother of the child was a witness to the sexual assault that occurred about three months prior to the offense being reported to law enforcement. The offense was reported by another family member when the victim made an outcry and not the mother who had knowledge of the sexual assault. A warrant was issued for the mother,Noemi Saenz, and she was taken into custody on June 29th for failure to stop or report an Aggravated Sexual Assault,  a Class A Misdemeanor. Her bond has been set at $10,000 dollars.

Both subjects have been booked in the Nacogdoches County Jail.