SIOUX CENTER, IOWA – This illegal alien working in Iowa in a supervisory position sexually assaulted his coworker in his old Ford pickup and American justice delivered a 25 day jail sentence and possible deportation.
Sioux County Attorney Thomas Kunstle announced that Onofre Bernardo Mendez, 47, of Sioux Center, Iowa, was sentenced on April 17, 2024 in Sioux County District Court for the crime of Assault With Intent To Commit Sex Abuse, an Aggravated Misdemeanor.
This case arose on February 2, 2024 when the Sioux County Sheriff’s Office received a complaint about a sexual abuse assault that took place about a mile southeast of Sioux Center. Further investigation revealed that Bernardo Mendez served as the victim’s employment supervisor, and began giving the victim rides home on days he had the victim stay late. On one occasion Bernardo Mendez (pictured at top) used force to sexually assault the victim in his 1998 Ford Ranger pickup truck. The victim did not consent to the sex act. During the investigation, Bernardo Mendez offered cash to the victim intending to persuade them not to cooperate with authorities.
On February 22, the police filed charges against Bernardo Mendez and he was arrested. He posted a $10,000 bond but instead of being released, was turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”) for removal proceedings. Sioux County authorities coordinated with ICE to temporarily take custody to complete their prosecution before ICE resumed their removal proceedings.
On April 15, 2024, Bernardo Mendez pled guilty to the amended count of Assault With Intent to Commit Sexual Abuse, an Aggravated Misdemeanor, pursuant to a plea agreement with the State. Bernardo Mendez was sentenced to 25 days in the Sioux County Jail, after which he will be returned to ICE custody for removal proceedings from the United States. As required by law, Bernardo Mendez was further ordered to register as a sex offender for life, be supervised for a period of 10 years as if on parole, pay a variety of criminal fines and surcharges. The Court further ordered Bernardo Mendez to have no contact with the victim for the next five (5) years.