LOWELL — A Lowell man was ordered held on $1 million bail yesterday after he was charged in Suffolk Superior Court with the rape of a girl which began when she was five years old.
According to a statement from the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, Maynor Francisco Hernandez-Rodas, 38, a Guatemalan national, was charged with four counts of aggravated rape of a child, three counts of indecent assault and battery on a child under 14, and one count of enticing a child under 16. Hernandez-Rodas was indicted by a Suffolk County grand jury on December 11.
Assistant District Attorney Kate Fraiman reported that in May 2024, the victim, then 10 years old, revealed that Hernandez-Rodas had repeatedly assaulted her from the age of five in various locations in Chelsea, Lowell, and Lynn. The abuse began in Chelsea and subsequently continued in Lowell and Lynn.
“We take great care when dealing with such young victims of any type of crime, particularly sexual crimes. Our expert and caring prosecutors, investigators and victim advocates will help this survivor and her family throughout the entire judicial process,” Hayden said.
Hernandez-Rodas faces charges in Middlesex County for similar offenses involving the same victim, according to the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office.
Hernandez-Rodas’ next court appearance is pretrial hearing scheduled for March 5.
Survivors of child abuse and sexual exploitation, along with their non-offending caretakers in Suffolk County, can access comprehensive services at the Children’s Advocacy Center of Suffolk County (CAC), the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office said. The CAC is available at 617-779-2146. Additionally, survivors may contact the Child Protection Unit at the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office at 617-619-4300 for support. Anyone suspecting a child in Massachusetts is being abused should call the DCF Child At Risk Hotline at 1-800-792-5200.
