Bail increase from $500 to $150,000 on Massachusetts migrant accused of child rape pauses deportation process

BROCKTON – At the request of the Commonwealth, a Superior Court judge has increased bail on a man charged with child rape, Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy Cruz has announced. 

After an hour-long hearing Monday in Brockton Superior Court, Judge Elaine Buckley allowed the Commonwealth’s motion and set cash bail at $150,000 with no surety against 26-year-old Cory B. Alvarez. Alvarez is indicted on one count each of Aggravated Rape of a Child with 10 Year Age Difference, and Rape of a Child by Force. The Commonwealth had requested that Alvarez be held on $1,000,000 with conditions. In the motion, the Commonwealth stated, “Specifically, without an increase in bail, the defendant, a purported citizen of Haiti here in the United States pursuant to the U.S. Immigration Cuban, Haitian, Nicaraguan and Venezuelan Parole Program, is scheduled to be removed from the United States on October 31, 2024, leaving him unable to answer the accusations against him. Such a scenario would halt the case indefinitely, preventing any resolution for both the alleged victim and the defendant.”

The charges stem from an investigation by Rockland Police. At approximately 7:06 p.m. on March 13, 2024, Rockland Police were dispatched to the Comfort Inn at 850 Hingham Street for a report of a sexual assault. The Comfort Inn is currently part of a state/federal program to house migrant families. Alvarez resided at that address. 

Upon arrival, Rockland Police encountered the 15-year-old female victim, who was then transported to South Shore Hospital for treatment. As a result of their investigation, Rockland Police developed probable cause to arrest Alvarez, and he was taken into custody. 

In June, a two-day dangerousness hearing was held in Brockton Superior Court. A judge found Alvarez not to be a danger, and set bail at $500 cash, which he posted that same day and was released. The Commonwealth had requested Alvarez be held on $10,000 cash bail with significant conditions. 

On August 13, Alvarez’s next pretrial conference date, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Boston Field Office took Alvarez into custody pursuant to an ICE detainer. Since then, Alvarez has been held in the ICE Unit within Plymouth County House of Corrections. 

Immigration proceedings documented that the defendant was found removable/inadmissible by the immigration court. Based on Alvarez’s admissions and concessions, the court determined that Alvarez was removable as charged. Alvarez waived his right to appeal this finding. 

On October 4, a warrant authorizing the deportation of the defendant was issued. On October 24, the Commonwealth was informed by ICE officials that they intended to deport Alvarez back to Haiti this Thursday, October 31. 

Last Friday, the Commonwealth requested today’s hearing to increase bail in order to pause this deportation process. 

“The Commonwealth does have a case of strength,” Judge Buckley stated during the hearing. “The court finds justice requires the increase in bail.” 

Alvarez is next scheduled to appear in court on November 13 for a discovery status hearing.