ICE lodges detainer against man accused of kidnapping, sexually assaulting 6-year-old in Warren County; DHS says he entered U.S. illegally
WASHINGTON BOROUGH, N.J. (Warren County) — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has lodged an immigration detainer against a 27-year-old Washington Borough man accused of kidnapping and sexually assaulting a 6-year-old child, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security told RNJ.
Lester Noe Perez-Amador, a Guatemalan national, is being held at the Warren County Correctional Center in Belvidere following his arrest on state charges. He faces two counts of first-degree aggravated sexual assault, one count of third-degree endangering the welfare of a child, first-degree kidnapping and first-degree home invasion burglary, according to the Warren County Prosecutor’s Office.
“On September 6, ICE lodged a detainer against Lester Noe Perez-Amador, a criminal illegal alien from Guatemala after he was arrested for aggravated sexual assault of a victim under 13, endangering sexual conduct with a child, kidnapping with bodily injury and home invasion burglary in Washington Borough, New Jersey,” DHS told RNJ.
DHS also provided information about Perez-Amador’s immigration history, saying he entered the United States illegally at an unknown time and place.
“Perez-Amador illegally entered the United States at an unknown time and place. In March 2024, he was arrested for DUI by Cameron County Police Department who transported him into ICE custody to face deportation. The Biden administration then RELEASED him back into the community despite being a criminal illegal alien with no right to remain in our country,” DHS said.
The department said it is seeking to have Perez-Amador transferred to ICE custody.
“We are urging Washington Township authorities to transfer Perez-Amador into ICE custody so we can do what Biden failed to do the first time—get this criminal illegal alien off of our streets and back to Guatemala where he belongs,” DHS said.
DHS also addressed the use of immigration detainers, saying:
“The safest way to arrest and remove criminal illegal aliens from our streets is by lodging arrest detainers. Because some sanctuary jurisdictions refuse to work with ICE law enforcement, criminal illegal aliens are released from jails into American communities to perpetuate more crimes. 7 of the top 10 safest cities in the United States cooperate with ICE.”
The state criminal investigation began after Washington Township police received a report of a missing 6-year-old child in Washington Borough at about 2:51 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 5. An initial investigation determined the child had been kidnapped from her home, according to the prosecutor’s office.
About an hour later, police located the child as she was returning home on foot. She was transported to a local hospital for treatment.
A coordinated, multi-agency investigation continued for 36 hours and resulted in Perez-Amador’s arrest within the first 24 hours, authorities said. Investigators determined that Perez-Amador was known to the child.
Perez-Amador was initially charged with first-degree home invasion burglary and first-degree kidnapping. He was charged Tuesday, Sept. 8, with two counts of first-degree aggravated sexual assault and one count of third-degree endangering the welfare of a child after investigators developed additional evidence supporting allegations that he sexually assaulted the child after kidnapping her, according to the prosecutor’s office.
The first-degree aggravated sexual assault charges carry a maximum sentence of 25 years to life in New Jersey State Prison, while the third-degree endangering the welfare of a child charge carries a maximum sentence of five years.
The first-degree kidnapping charge carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment with 25 years of parole ineligibility, while first-degree home invasion burglary carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in New Jersey State Prison under the No Early Release Act.
Perez-Amador remains held at the Warren County Correctional Center. A court hearing on the state’s motion for pretrial detention is anticipated next week, according to the prosecutor’s office.
