Published: July 09, 2008 10:43 am      

New Albany police arrest man accused of raping 14-year-old relative

Suspect possibly in the country illegally

A 19-year-old man was arrested in New Albany for allegedly kidnapping and raping a 14-year-old family member.

Jenrry Yovany Zavala, has been charged with rape, a class B felony, criminal confinement, a class D felony, and contributing to delinquency of a minor, a class A misdemeanor.

According to a probable cause affidavit, a man called 911 and said that his niece had been kidnapped by a family member from his residence along the 4500 block of County Road South 400 West in Hanover. The caller was in New Albany looking for Zavala. He led officers to an alley behind East 18th Street.

They entered the residence and found Zavala in the bedroom with the victim, hiding in the closet behind him. According to the affidavit, Zavala told the victim to say she was 17 years old.

Floyd County Prosecutor Keith Henderson said the victim is actually 14 years old.

The victim told police through a translator that she had been taken against her will, the document states. The victim also claims that Zavala threatened to kill her and forced her to have sex with him 11 times. He also threatened to take her to Houston, she told police.

He initially gave police the name Milton Aguirre-Melgar, but police believe his name is actually Jenrry Yovany Zavala.

According to the affidavit, family members said Zavala has been arrested several times and always gives police fake names.

Police say that while en route to jail, Zavala kept saying that as soon as he is released, he will go back to Honduras.

Henderson said officials have not been able to confirm if Zavala is a legal resident in the United States. If Zavala is in the country illegally, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, will deal with deportation issues.

“We always notify ICE when we have someone charged with a felony,” Henderson said.

Zavala sits in the Floyd County Jail. His initial hearing is set for 1:30 p.m. today, at which time the judge will decide whether to set bail.