Minister, former Stonewall Jackson manager faces child abuse charges

By MICHAEL RODRIGUEZ
Managing Editor
editor@sbnewspaper.com

Edwin Talavera

Federal authorities have joined the San Benito Police Department in searching for a man wanted on multiple counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child – a crime investigators believe was allegedly perpetrated by a minister who was also the former manager of the now-defunct Stonewall Jackson Hotel in San Benito.

The suspect’s live-in girlfriend has also been taken into custody for failing to report the alleged child abuse, which police said had occurred since last year inside Stonewall Jackson and later at a residence in Brownsville.

Although the alleged victims’ ages were withheld from the media, investigators did confirm that they were two females under the age of 14.

SBPD Detective Rogelio Banda Jr. identified 37-year-old Edwin Talavera as the

Norma Alicia Rodriguez

suspect wanted on two counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child. Specifically, Talavera is accused of sexually assaulting the two underage girls at his apartment in the Stonewall Jackson Hotel, where he was serving as the complex’s manager up until its closure in October. Also, Banda said the alleged molestation continued once Talavera and the victims, whom he reportedly had access to via residency, moved to Brownsville.

Banda said San Benito police officers were informed about the incident in January, this after Child Protective Services learned of the matter as a result of the victims making an outcry to a relative.

“We were notified by CPS at the beginning of the year – in January – and received information that two girls had made an outcry to a family member,” Banda said. “That family member notified a social worker who then notified CPS. That’s how we got involved in this incident.”

Norma Alicia Rodriguez, 33, of San Benito was arrested and charged with two counts of failure to report a felony, a class “A” misdemeanor, in relation to the case. Specifically, police believe Rodriguez, who lived with Talavera, was aware of the alleged child abuse but did not report it to police. She was arraigned Thursday before Justice of the Peace David Garza, who set her bond at $25,000 for each count to total $50,000.

“The information that we’re getting,” Banda said, “is that apparently the children made the outcry to [Rodriguez] but she ignored the outcry, and the children had to report it to another family member who then made the outcry on behalf of the children.”

Banda noted that investigators have reason to believe that Talavera, referred to by the detective as a former minister at an unnamed church in San Benito, may be staying in the Brownsville area.

Those with information as to Talavera’s whereabouts are encouraged to call San Benito police at (956) 361-3880. Assisting in the search for the suspect, meanwhile, are authorities with the U.S. Marshals and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.