ChildLine is a toll-free hotline Pennsylvanians may call to report suspected child abuse or neglect. Although ChildLine investigators aren't police, they may share information about ChildLine reports with law enforcement.

Thus, ChildLine reports can result in criminal penalties. A ChildLine report recently led to the arrest of David Matos Vazquez, 23, who allegedly had a sexual relationship with a 13-year-old Sunbury girl.

You need a proper legal defense if you ever face such charges. At the LLF Law Firm, our Criminal Defense Team is prepared to offer exactly that. Submit your information through our online form or call our offices today at 888-535-3686 to learn more.

Sunbury Girl Provides Information About Relationship

According to reports, Sherry Moroz of the Child Advocacy Center in Sunbury interviewed the girl with whom Vazquez had allegedly had a sexual relationship on December 29, 2023. The girl reportedly shared the following information:

• She would sneak Vazquez into her home to facilitate sexual encounters between the two. When their sexual relationship first began, Vazquez was 19, and she was 13.
• The girl ran away to stay with Vazquez in March of 2020. She only remained with him for a day before police found her and returned her to her family.
• In response to her running away, the girl said her mother smashed her phone. She also allegedly reported that she ended contact with Vazquez at this time.
• Vazquez allegedly told the girl he'd taken a video of them while having sexual relations once. The girl said she had never seen the video and that Vazquez had promised never to post it online or share it with anyone else. However, she continued to have sexual relations with him, potentially out of fear that he might share the video in retaliation if she were to end the relationship.

Consent Doesn't Change the Law

Vazquez's current address is listed as the State Correctional Facility. When investigators interviewed him on April 29 of this year, he stated the girl had snuck him into her home in the past and that they'd been boyfriend and girlfriend.

Vazquez denied ever having sexual relations with the girl. He stated that, due to being incarcerated, he actually hadn't been in contact with her for the past four and a half years.

Nevertheless, police apparently determined they had sufficient evidence to justify arresting Vazquez. He currently faces charges of felony involuntary deviate sexual intercourse of a person less than 16 years of age, corruption of minors, and misdemeanor indecent assault of a person less than 16. Vazquez was previously sentenced to two to 10 years after pleading guilty to four counts of aggravated indecent assault of a person less than 16 in 2022.

This new case highlights an important detail of the law: The fact that the girl allegedly gave Vazquez permission to enter her home and engage in alleged sexual activity doesn't change the nature of their relationship. It's still illegal in the eyes of the law.

If you're ever charged with these types of crimes, don't try to put together your own defense strategy. Our Criminal Defense Team at the LLF Law Firm will implement a strategy tailored to your specific needs. Find out more by calling us at 888-535-3686 today or submitting your information through our online contact form.