Royal City man booked for first-degree rape of a child

ROYAL CITY – Sergio Leal Barragan was arrested by Grant County Detectives Tuesday in relation to the sexual assault of two juveniles over a prolonged period. The 54-year-old Royal City man had his first court appearance Wednesday.  

Judge Tyson Hill found probable cause for first-degree rape of a child with aggravator of abuse of trust and first-degree child molestation with aggravator of abuse of trust, according to a Grant County Sheriff’s Office release. 

An aggravator of abuse of trust means that the defendant abuses a position of trust to facilitate the crime, and they gained access to the victim or the location of the crime because of the trust relationship.  

Hill set Barragan’s bail at $75,000 cash or bond. Barragan’s court arraignment is scheduled for Nov. 5.  

At the time of the alleged assault, the victims were between seven and nine years old. Both of the victims knew Barragan before the assaults.  

Barragan is considered innocent until proven guilty in court.