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Police: Man Impregnated 12-Year-Old Relative In Pasco

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By LISA A. DAVIS | The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 15, 2008

  John Vasquez

  John Vasquez

NEW PORT RICHEY - She's only 12 and already the mother to a baby girl, New Port Richey police say.

And investigators discovered the baby was conceived in a home in New Port Richey. A relative of the girl is the father, according to police.

Now that man, John Vasquez, 34, of Winter Park is behind bars in the Land O' Lakes Jail facing a charge of sexual battery. Bail is set at $75,000.

On June 2, New Port Richey police detectives got a call from Casselberry police in Seminole County that a 12-year-old there had recently given birth to a baby. The child was conceived in New Port Richey sometime last spring or summer.

The location of where police say the rape occurred has not been released, nor has the relationship of the girl and Vasquez, to protect the 12-year-old's identity.

DNA evidence was collected from Vasquez and the baby, and Florida Department of Law Enforcement crime lab technicians confirmed recently that Vasquez was the baby's father, police said.

New Port Richey police detectives obtained a warrant for Vasquez's arrest, and Orange County deputies arrested him Aug. 6. He was transferred to the Land O' Lakes Jail on Wednesday.

"This is one of those things that's tough on the investigator and tough on the family since it's a family member," New Port Richey police Assistant Chief Darryl Garman said.

A review of law enforcement records showed no criminal record for Vasquez before this arrest.

Reporter Lisa A. Davis can be reached at (727) 815-1083 or ldavis@tampatrib.com.

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