Man, 33, Arrested in Texas for Alleged Sexual Assault of Teen in Hellertown

Editor’s note: This story has been updated with additional information shared by the Hellertown Police Department.

A 33-year-old man is facing felony charges for allegedly sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl in Hellertown.

According to a news release from the Northampton County District Attorney’s office, Santos Ezequiel Gonzalez Zamora of Nicaragua was apprehended by U.S. Customs officials at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, Texas, on Aug. 10.

The office said police began their investigation that led to his arrest after receiving a report about the sexual assault of a minor on July 27.

“During this investigation, police discovered that Gonzalez Zamora initially contacted the victim through social media,” the release said. The DA’s office said police also “recovered messages and photographs exchanged between the victim and Gonzalez Zamora” and found evidence of meetings between them.

Hellertown Police issued an arrest warrant for Gonzalez Zamora on July 31, and following his arrest in Texas he was extradited to Pennsylvania by Harris County officials on Aug. 19.

Gonzalez Zamora was arraigned Tuesday before District Judge Alan Mege on felony charges of Statutory Sexual Assault, Involuntary Deviate Sexual Intercourse and Corruption of Minors and a misdemeanor charge of Indecent Assault.

According to the DA’s office, bail was denied to Gonzalez Zamora becasue he is considered a flight risk and he was committed to the Northampton County Prison following the arraignment.

According to the docket filed in the case, a preliminary hearing before Mege is scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 2 at 10:30 a.m.

The docket didn’t list an attorney for Gonzalez Zamora.

In a post published on the department’s Facebook page on Aug. 20, Hellertown Police officials thanked the district attorney’s office, the Officer David M. Petzold Digital Forensics Laboratory of Lehigh County and U.S. Customs and Border Protection for their assistance in the case, as well as Det. John Donato, who they said “worked so diligently to make this arrest.”

Note: All individuals arrested or charged with a crime are presumed innocent until or unless proven guilty. This story was compiled using information from the Northampton County District Attorney’s office and county court records.