A man accused of sexually battering and impregnating an 11-year-old girl is back in the U.S. to face charges.

  • Suspect extradited from Guatemala
  • Accused of impregnating a then-11-year-old girl
  • Girl gave birth in May 2015  

Rony Mendez, 25, was extradited from Guatemala. He had a first appearance Tuesday afternoon at the Bartow Courthouse.

Polk County Sheriff's deputies said Mendez, who was 23 years old at the time, sexually molested and impregnated a then-11-year-old girl with whom he had access.

Polk Sheriff Grady Judd said that when the girl’s mother found out she was pregnant in 2014 she told Mendez. Judd said Mendez immediately left work and fled to Guatemala.

An arrest warrant was obtained on November 27, 2014, charging Mendez with three counts sexual battery on a minor under 12 years old and one count of lewd molestation. The sheriff’s office worked with federal and international law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, to get Mendez arrested in Guatemala.

"When we say that we'll chase you to the ends of the earth in order to arrest you, please understand that's exactly what we did,” said Judd during a press conference Tuesday.

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Once Mendez was arrested, the extradition process took several months.

"That may seem like a long time, the four months," said FBI Supervisory Special Agent Terry Rahl. "But I can tell you that in the big picture of international extraditions it is not."

Mendez arrived in Tampa Monday night, and he was booked into the Polk County Jail. During his court appearance Tuesday, the judge ruled that Mendez would be held without bond.

Sheriff Judd said the girl is doing well, and her baby is about a year old now. The baby is in good health and being raised by the girl and her family.

"Can you imagine the responsibility that child and her family have, because of this person we still call a human being?” said Judd.