Donna man accused of repeated sexual abuse of girl

DONNA — A man accused of repeatedly sexually abusing a girl remains behind bars.

Lorenzo Castillo, 37, was charged Sunday with aggravated sexual assault and continuous sexual abuse of a young child.

The teenage girl showed up at the Donna Police Department to report the alleged years of abuse, which she said began when she was 6 years old.

The girl said the abuse occurred inside her bedroom at her Donna home, according to the criminal complaint in the case. The girl's mother sent her to live with her grandmother in Mexico after finding out about the abuse. When the girl returned, she said Castillo began to abuse her again. 

The girl told police Castillo threatened to call the U.S. Border Patrol and kill her mother if she ever reported the abuse to authorities. The girl's immigration status was not stated in the criminal complaint.

According to a police affidavit, the child told investigators Castillo had been molesting her since she was 6 years old. The girl is now a teenager, but her exact age was not listed in the criminal complaint.

Castillo remains at the Hidalgo County Jail in lieu of a $1 million bond. Donna police investigators could not be reached for comment Monday afternoon.

If convicted, Castillo faces 25 years to life in prison and a $10,000 fine for the continuous sexual abuse of a young child charge. The aggravated sexual assault charge also carries a maximum sentence of life in prison and a $10,000 find upon conviction.