An undocumented Honduran migrant has been accused of raping a woman on a popular hiking trail near Washington, DC, shortly after being released from jail on another sexual offense charge. This incident marks the first stranger rape in the town in over a decade, according to authorities.
Herndon, Virginia Police Chief Maggie DeBoard stated in a press conference on Tuesday, “This is the only stranger rape that we have had in the town in my more than 12 years as chief of police.”
Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin criticized local officials for releasing the repeat offender back into the community instead of handing him over to ICE for deportation.
“I am heartsick for this victim and outraged that local Fairfax County officials recklessly released violent undocumented immigrants who should have been prosecuted and deported,” said Gov. Youngkin in a statement to The Post.
“This is a dereliction of their most basic duty to keep people safe. Prioritizing violent undocumented immigrants over the safety of Fairfax residents is unacceptable,” he added, emphasizing that Virginia is not a sanctuary state.
Denis Humberto Navarette Romero, a 31-year-old Honduran national living in the US illegally, was arrested on Monday on charges of intent to defile and rape.
Romero has a history of sexual offenses dating back years, according to Herndon police.
Just four days before his latest arrest, Romero was released from jail and was apprehended on the Washington and Old Dominion Trail, located approximately 25 miles west of Washington, DC.
He had been released on November 14 after serving only half of his 50-day sentence for indecent exposure due to “good behavior,” as per authorities.
The victim, who did not know her attacker prior to the assault, was attacked on the busy trail when he allegedly grabbed her arm, forced her to the ground, and raped her just before 9 p.m. on Monday.
Following a bystander’s call for help, police arrived at the scene and arrested Romero within minutes.
Police Chief DeBoard informed reporters that Romero has a history of sexual offenses in the town and surrounding areas.
“What is disturbing is the number of times this individual has been arrested and released,” she stated. “He has continued to reoffend, and his behavior has escalated to a rape in a very public area.”
Romero’s criminal activities began in 2018 when he was reported for fondling a 14-year-old. This led to a Fairfax County sex crimes investigation, revealing incidents where he exposed himself to a 10-year-old and a 13-year-old the year before, based on police records obtained by the Washington Post.
However, the parents of the victims were hesitant to cooperate with the police, resulting in the investigation being closed without charges.
His first arrest occurred four years later when he assaulted a Herndon officer who responded to another incident where he had inappropriately touched a woman at a local restaurant.
He was initially charged with felony assault on a law enforcement officer by Herndon police, but the charge was downgraded to misdemeanor assault by the Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney in exchange for a guilty plea.
His most recent imprisonment was due to an indecent exposure incident on October 19.
The victim, Jennifer Pugh, shared her experience with Fox 5 DC regarding his indecent exposure, which prompted her to file a police report.
“He kept coming, trying to grab my dog. Then he was trying to come after me, saying things. He didn’t speak English, and then suddenly he started exposing himself,” Pugh recounted to the local outlet. “I told him ‘there are Ring cameras all around, you know,’ but he didn’t care.”
The suspect is currently being held at the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center awaiting a preliminary hearing.
Police records indicate that variations in the spelling of the suspect’s name in his numerous arrests have complicated efforts to compile his extensive criminal history. The Washington Post reported that at least three versions of his name have been linked to the FBI number and fingerprints of the suspect arrested on Monday.
The Fairfax County Sheriff’s office stated that they notify ICE whenever they arrest an undocumented individual. However, the department’s lawyer informed The Washington Post that in the four instances where Romero was in their custody, they never received a detainer or warrant from ICE.
DeBoard expressed disappointment in the justice system and the fear it instills in the community during a local interview.
“It’s frustrating because I assure the community that they should feel safe here, and I truly believe they are safe here. But when cases like this occur, I see a breakdown in some part of the system… if everything was working together, if there was a way to make it work, this incident would never have happened,” stated the chief, noting that no single entity in the process is solely responsible.
Governor Youngkin mentioned that the policies that allowed Navarette Romero to continue his criminal activities in the community will no longer be tolerated in 2025.
“When President Trump takes office, the political posturing will end, and localities will cooperate with ICE to protect Virginians,” Youngkin concluded.
