Child rape charges levied - Illegal immigrant accused of raping, kidnapping girl

A man with illegal immigrant status was arrested last week at Cedars of Lebanon State Park based on charges of raping and kidnapping his girlfriend's teenage daughter.
Maurilol Barrera, 34, of Park Avenue in Lebanon, was taken into custody at the state park after allegedly kidnapping the 13-year-old girl at knifepoint. Deputies from the Wilson County Sheriff's Department apprehended him near a residence at the park after he attempted to make a phone call, Sheriff Terry Ashe said Tuesday.
Barrera, who is in the Wilson County Jail without bond, is charged with two counts of rape of a child, three counts of statutory rape and one count each of aggravated kidnapping and domestic assault.
Barrera could face life in prison on the kidnapping charge.
Ashe said deputies originally thought the case was one of domestic assault, but learned shortly thereafter the situation was much more serious. He said Barrera kidnapped the girl at knifepoint and disappeared into the park Friday.
"We had search dogs looking for him," Ashe said. "… And he just came out on one of those access roads that run into Cedar Forest and tried to go to a residence and use a phone … but we caught him."
Ashe said his department's investigation, led by Detective Brian Harbaugh and Sgt. Hank Miller, revealed multiple incidents of sexual assault between March and August of this year. Two incidents occurred when the victim was 12 years old, which constitutes charges of rape of a child. Three other incidents occurred after her 13th birthday, constituting statutory rape, Ashe said.
Furthermore, the incidents allegedly occurred throughout the county, Ashe said.
"He gained access to this child through his relationship with the child's mother," Ashe said. "… This happened at multiple locations in Wilson County to include the cities of Lebanon and Mt. Juliet."
Ashe said Barrera, an illegal immigrant, has crossed the border several times in the past five years and has been imprisoned in Mexico in the past.
"These are real serious charges leveled against an individual who's not a resident of this country," Ashe said. "… He should have still been in jail, probably, in Mexico. … We're trying to learn what we can about why he was in jail in Mexico."
The investigation, aided by the Mt. Juliet Police Department and Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, was hampered by the fact nearly no one involved spoke much English, Ashe said. He added several interpreters were required for interviews.
"None of these people speak English, or they are limited," Ashe said. "It's been very difficult to work this case … in our eyes, she's a 13-year-old victim, and I'm glad they had enough confidence that we can work this case, and we felt like we can back up these charges."
Ashe also credited park rangers at Cedars of Lebanon.
"David Rowland was instrumental … and worked with us," Ashe said. "(The rangers) really were a big help."
No court date has been set, and Barrera remains in the Wilson County Jail.
Staff Writer Jason Cox can be reached at 444-3952 ext. 45 or by e-mail at jason.cox@lebanondemocrat.com.