Border Patrol agent charged with abuse of a minor

BROWNSVILLE - A U.S. Border Patrol agent was arrested by Cameron County Sheriff's Department deputies after an investigation into allegations that he had a sexual relation with a 14-year-old girl.

Francisco Villanueva, 35, was charged Wednesday with soliciting sexual relations with a minor, which is a second-degree felony, and engaging in sexual acts with a minor, a third- degree felony, said Sheriff Omar Lucio.

Bond was set on Villanueva at $30,000 for soliciting a minor and $20,000 on the second charge.

"The investigation started on Feb. 1 when the mother . . . came in and spoke with our investigators," Lucio said.

Villanueva, a Border Patrol agent for 8 years, had been a friend of the victim's family for years and frequently would visit their home, the sheriff said.

According Lucio, the parents discovered the relationship when they found descriptive notes.

"Apparently the girl's sisters had discovered a diary and some letters that described the type of relation and acts that were involved," he said.

The teenager was taken to the Cameron County Children's Advocacy Center where she underwent a forensic interview, which determined she had been involved in a sexual relationship with the agent, the sheriff said.

The agent was arrested at the Border Patrol station in Harlingen when he arrived for his shift, Lucio said.

"While sexual assaults are not unheard of, incidents like this tarnish all the men and women in law enforcement who are proud of their badge," the sheriff said.