Baldwin County Man Charged in Alleged Sexual Assault of Teen; Judge Sets $70,000 Bond

BALDWIN COUNTY, Ala. (BuzzReport) — A Baldwin County judge has set bond at $70,000 for a 19-year-old man accused of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl he allegedly met through social media.

Authorities identified the suspect as Julio Perez Jr., who is currently being held in the Baldwin County Jail. According to court records, the total bond includes $50,000 for a charge of traveling to meet a minor for an unlawful sex act, along with $10,000 bonds each for second-degree rape and second-degree sodomy.

Investigators say the case began when Perez allegedly initiated contact with the teenage girl on Snapchat. Law enforcement officials allege that after communicating online, Perez traveled to Florida, where he picked up the victim and transported her across state lines to his residence in Elberta.

Officials have not released additional details about how the alleged incident came to light, but the case has raised concerns about the dangers of online interactions involving minors.

As part of the bond conditions, if Perez is released from custody, he will be required to wear a GPS monitoring device and remain under house arrest. He is also prohibited from having any contact with the victim and is barred from accessing smart devices or the internet.

The investigation remains ongoing. Authorities urge parents and guardians to closely monitor their children’s online activity and to report any suspicious interactions to law enforcement.