Police: Danbury man accused of sexually assaulting Norwalk child for years
NORWALK — A Danbury man was arrested Friday after police say he sexually assaulted a child for several years.
Manuel Mesias GuamanJapa, 46, was charged Friday with first-degree sexual assault of a person under 13 years old, fourthdegree sexual assault and illegal sexual contact with a person under 13 years of age, Norwalk Police Lt. Joe Dinho said in a news release.
Guaman-Japa is being held on a $1.5 million bond and is scheduled to appear in court on Feb. 14, according to Dinho.
Norwalk police officers were notified of the sexual assault on Sept. 20, 2021 and the department’s Special Victim’s Unit, in conjunction with the Connecticut Department of Children and Families and the Children’s Connection, conducted a “detailed and extensive investigation,” Dinho said.
“The investigation revealed that the suspect, Manuel Guaman, had lived with the child’s family and had sexually assaulted the child many times over several years,” Dinho said. “When the child disclosed to their parents what had happened, the Norwalk police were notified.”
After a detective obtained an arrest warrant, the Norwalk Police Department’s Special Services Division and the U.S. Marshals Service’s Violent Fugitive Task Force found that Guaman-Japa was staying in Danbury. Police found and arrested Guaman-Japa on Coalpit Hill Road in
Danbury on Friday.
Those who have suffered from sexual violence can speak to specialists for support, information, advice or a referral by calling the free and confidential National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800-656HOPE (4673). Those who wish to chat online with trained specialists, which is also free and confidential, can also go to RAINN.org/GetHelp. Help is available 24/7.
To report cases of child exploitation, visit www. CyberTipline.com.