California father accused of impregnating his 14-year-old daughter is arrested in Mexico, two months after a newborn was found dead on a remote road

Diana Galvez Ortega has been found safe in Mexico following a two-month search. The 14-year-old was rescued by Mexican law enforcement, and her father, 38-year-old Sergio Galvez Perez, was taken into custody during the same operation. The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office in California confirmed the development on Sunday, according to People.

The teenager is now in the care of local authorities in Mexico, and detectives worked with the FBI and Mexican authorities on the rescue. “During the rescue operation, Sergio Galvez Perez was arrested after he was found in possession of narcotics,” Sheriff Tina Nieto said. Nieto also confirmed that Mexican authorities are aware of the charges waiting for him back in Monterey County.

He is currently facing charges of incest, lewd or lascivious acts with a child under 14, lewd acts with a minor, unlawful sexual intercourse, child concealment, and child endangerment. Before this arrest, investigators had been tracking Diana Galvez Ortega and her father after they were spotted on surveillance footage in the Salinas area. They were seen traveling in a white Nissan Altima that lacked license plates. However, the two remained missing until the rescue in Mexico.

The search had come down to a white Nissan with no license plates

The pair were last seen in Salinas in early August, three days after a newborn baby was found dead on the side of a road in north Monterey County. Police identified the infant as “Baby Angelita,” and authorities believe the child was Diana Galvez Ortega’s. Investigators also suspect Perez is the baby’s father. An Amber Alert was issued for Diana Galvez Ortega in early September, as detectives believed Perez was concealing her and preventing law enforcement from locating her.

The sheriff’s office said at the time that finding her and getting her medical care was its immediate priority. There was public confusion earlier in the process regarding a murder warrant for the 14-year-old. However, Monterey County District Attorney Jeannine M. Pacioni clarified the situation days before the Amber Alert was issued. She explained that the warrant was a Ramey warrant, which law enforcement requests and a court processes without prior review or approval from her office.

Pacioni made it clear that her office had not approved a murder charge against the teenager, as she views Diana Galvez Ortega as a victim of the abuse allegedly perpetrated by her father. “No child should ever have to endure such horrific circumstances,” Jeannine M. Pacioni said. The girl’s mother was arrested earlier in the case on suspicion of child endangerment, and Pacioni said in the same statement that her office was reviewing potential charges against her.

These potential charges are not related to the infant’s death or the sexual assault allegations. Pacioni said she “cannot comment further on those potential charges” as the investigation is ongoing. The sheriff’s office has not said whether Perez will be extradited to Monterey County. It plans to schedule a press conference, where it is expected to share more about the rescue of Diana Galvez Ortega and the arrest.