Man arrested in Bulloch County home invasion, rape case

BULLOCH COUNTY, Ga. (WTOC) - A 26-year-old man is being held without bond in connection with a home invasion and rape case after investigators say he entered a family’s home and assaulted an 11-year-old girl.

Deputies arrested Kenneth Moreno Guzman Thursday. He faces 20 criminal charges including rape, aggravated child molestation and home invasion.

“These charges run, several of them, hold a twenty five to life sentence. And that is our objective here, is to send him to prison,” said Captain Todd Hutchens, Criminal Investigations Commander.

Guzman faces the following charges:

• Rape
• Statutory Rape
• Aggravated Child Molestation
• Aggravated Sodomy
• Cruelty to Children - 1st degree
• Aggravated Assault - 2 counts
• Home Invasion - 1st degree
• False Imprisonment
• Burglary
• Possession of Knife during commission of a crime - 10 counts

The Bulloch County Sheriff’s Office received the call Monday morning. Investigators say Guzman broke into the family’s home through the back door and raped the 11-year-old girl. The sheriff’s office said he also held both the victim and her 10-year-old sister at knife point.

Guzman lives in the same trailer park as the victim and her family, but they did not know the suspect. He told investigators the attack was premeditated.

“He had previously seen this eleven-year-old girl before, he claimed he was attracted to her. So during the middle of the night he broke in to the home found her in the bedroom with her sister and forcibly raped her,” Hutchens said.

After the assault, investigators say Guzman ran. The sisters woke up their parents, who called 911.

Investigators arrested Guzman during a traffic stop after getting a description of his vehicle. Officials said Guzman did not resist arrest and is cooperating with investigators.

Hutchens has a message for the community following the case.

“Don’t be afraid to report things, because that’s the only way we can help folks out. We encourage people to report,” he said.

Guzman is being held at Bulloch County Jail and is expected in court early next week.

Captain Hutchens urges anyone with details regarding this case to reach out to lead investigator Kodi Wallis, (912) 764-2715.