California Amber Alert teen rescued in Mexico; father accused of incest arrested

A 14-year-old Monterey County, California, girl who was the subject of an Amber Alert has been rescued in Mexico and her father, who is suspected of sexually abusing her, has been arrested, authorities said. The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office said the teen, whom NBC News is not naming because she is a victim of sexual abuse and a minor, was rescued by Mexican law enforcement. Sheriff Tina Nieto said the teen’s father, 38-year-old Sergio Galvez Perez, was arrested after he was allegedly found in possession of narcotics. Galvez Perez is wanted on several felony charges, including incest, lewd or lascivious acts with a child under 14, unlawful sexual intercourse and child endangerment. Nieto said Mexican authorities are aware of Galvez Perez’s pending charges in Monterey County and worked with local police and the FBI to rescue the girl. “[She] is safe and is currently in the care of local authorities in Mexico,” Nieto added. The announcement comes almost a month after the California Highway Patrol issued an Amber Alert for the teen and her father. The alert was issued amid an investigation into the remains of an infant found on Aug. 1 on the side of a road in Monterey County. It’s not clear how the infant died, but investigators said the infant’s body showed signs of traumatic injury. Investigators eventually identified Galvez Perez and the teen as being connected to the newborn, which authorities have named “Baby Angelita.” The sheriff’s office said they believe the 14-year-old conceived the child as a result of her father’s sexual abuse, gave birth on the side of a road and left the baby. While the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office had initially said the teen girl was wanted on suspicion of murder, the District Attorney’s Office said no charging decision had been made. “We recognize that the 14-year-old is a victim of her father’s abuse. No child should ever have to endure such horrific circumstances,” the DA’s office said in part in a statement on Sept. 2. “Our office works with victims of abuse every day and understands that children who have experienced abuse can face extraordinary barriers to safety and may be unable to seek help on their own, particularly when they are under the control or influence of an abuser. The responsibility for getting a child to safety does not rest on the child. Our priority is to ensure that this young girl is safe and has access to the support and services she needs.” The teen’s mother, Ofelia Garcia Ortega, was arrested in August on allegations of child endangerment and later released on bail.