Bristol County DA: Honduran national sentenced to prison in Fall River court for repeatedly raping young relative

Bristol County District Attorney Thomas Quinn, III has announced that a 46-year-old man who was residing in New Bedford, MA but originally from Honduras, was found guilty after a jury trial in the Fall River Superior Court for Rape of Child Aggravated by Age, Rape of Child by Force, Rape, three counts of Indecent Assault and Battery on a Child Under 14, three counts of Indecent Assault and Battery on a Child over 14 and Witness Intimidation. 

Daniel Turcios Torres was sentenced by the Honorable Raffi Yessayan to a State Prison sentence of 36 to 45 years followed by 10 years of probation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Casey Smith and Jennifer Czapiga. 

In July of 2024, the 17-year-old female victim reported to New Bedford police that the defendant, who was a close biological relative, had been sexually abusing her since the age of 12.  She reported that the last incident had occurred at the end of June 2024.  The victim indicated she and members of her family arrived in the United States from Honduras in 2019 when she was 12 years old.  The victim indicated, it was shortly after her arrival in the United States that the repeated sexual abuse by Turcios Torres, who was in a position of care for the victim, began.  The victim disclosed numerous rapes of penile penetration and indecent touching beginning at the age of 12 by being held down by the defendant.  The victim reported that she would be punished physically and by restriction of activities if she refused him.  The victim reported that Turcios Torres forced her to take birth control and did not wear a condom during the sexual assaults.  The victim disclosed to family members two to three years prior to going to the police.  However, the victim recanted after Turcios Torres threatened the victim that she and her siblings would be split up and go into government care or be sent back to Honduras if she went to the police.  An adult family member did observe Turcios Torres in the victim’s room kissing her and touching her leg and recalled a time when he came home intoxicated and went to the victim’s room and locked the door.  When confronted, Turcios Torres indicated he went to the victim’s room by mistake. 

The defendant will serve the State Prison sentence imposed by the Court and is subject to an ICE detainer. 

“The defendant raped a close young female relative hundreds of times during a five-year period.  During that time, she was forced to use birth control to avoid a pregnancy, and he repeatedly threatened her not to tell anyone of the abuse.  He should have been protecting her and not raping her.  The conduct is despicable, and the lengthy sentence imposed by the court is well-deserved for all the harm he has caused her.  I commend the victim for her courage in testifying against her father and going through a most difficult ordeal.  I hope she can move forward with her life.  She did nothing wrong.,” District Attorney Tom Quinn said.