On January 21, 2026, at approximately 2:40 P.M., Officer Schroeder was dispatched to a residence located in the City of Austin, County of Mower, on a report of a sexual assault that occurred at the location. The reporting party advised that her fifteen-year-old daughter (Victim A) reported that RAFAEL RANGEL, DOB/051259, the defendant herein, had touched her breasts and thighs over her clothes. Victim A is developmentally disabled and receives services from Mower County. The defendant resides with Victim A in the same household.
Officer Schroeder arrived and made contact with the defendant, who was standing on the porch at the front of the residence. Schroeder asked the defendant what was going on. The defendant stated that he had been on the sofa with Victim A “playing around” in the living room. The defendant said that he saw “something” on Victim A’s thigh and tried to swipe it off but believes he went too far. The defendant said Victim A told him he tried touching her private parts and the defendant said he did not do that.
The defendant said he put his arm around her to give her a hug, but he did not try to touch her boobs or anything. He said he then saw crumbs on her lap and attempted to rub them off. The defendant said that Victim A got up and walked into her bedroom. Officer Schroeder then went inside the residence and made contact with Victim A, her mother, and her caseworker (H. A. C., an adult female). Schroeder spoke with H. A. C. Who stated that she was outside the house when the incident occurred. She said that she received a text from Victim A stating that she needed help and that she does not feel comfortable around the defendant.
H. A. C. Provided Schroeder with the text message. Officer Schroeder then spoke with Victim A. Victim A stated that she was sitting on the couch when the defendant came upstairs from the basement. Victim A said the defendant sat down next to her and asked her for a hug. Victim A said that she gave the defendant a hug and he pulled her in close to the point where her head was somewhat on his lap but mainly on his chest. Victim A said the defendant began to place his thumb in between her breasts and began to move his hand back and forth.
She stated that while the defendant was rubbing her breasts, he then began to place his hand in between her thighs but did not touch her vagina this time. She told Schroeder that when the other incidents happened, she thought he had been distracted and was not paying attention to what he was doing. Victim A said that now that it is happening more often, she believes that the defendant is doing it intentionally. Victim A said the first incident occurred approximately three weeks ago, while the second incident occurred a couple of days after the first incident.
