ROCKVILLE, Md. — Lawyers for the father of one of the Rockville High School rape suspects, who himself is imprisoned on charges of being in the country illegally, describe him as a hard worker with a clean record, who has been in the United States for 12 years.
Andrew Jezic, who is the attorney for rape defendant Henry Sanchez Milian, said his firm is also representing the father, Adolfo Sanchez Reyes, 43.
“He’s a humble, respectful guy and it’s just a shame that this has happened,” said Jezic.
Just over a week after his son was arrested and charged in an alleged rape at Rockville High School, the father of Henry Sanchez Milian, 18, was arrested for being in the country unlawfully.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents picked up Sanchez Reyes on March 24, just over a week after Sanchez Milian and fellow student Jose Montano, 17, allegedly raped a 14-year-old student in a bathroom at Rockville High School.
Sanchez Reyes remains at the Howard County Detention Center, in Jessup, Maryland, ahead of an immigration court hearing. Jezic said his detention is a direct result of the Trump administration’s increased immigration enforcement.
“There is no doubt that him being snatched up is a loss for the family,” said attorney Dave Hollenberg, who is working on the father’s case.
Hollenberg said the family holds out hope that Sanchez Reyes will be able to post bond and leave the detention facility.
Court documents say Sanchez Milian was detained by law enforcement while crossing the Texas border from Mexico and was also charged with being in the country illegally.
Hollenberg said that Sanchez Milian was allowed, after his detention in Texas, to stay with his father pending his court date. The lawyer said that, to their knowledge, the court date was never set.
Jezic said both male students are innocent of the alleged rape, and that the sexual encounter with the girl was consensual.
In court this week, prosecutors said text messages show both teenage suspects conspired to lure the girl into the restroom and attack her.
Montano will be back in court on April 7.
