WESTFIELD – A youth who apparently came to the city to attend Westfield High School was held in lieu of $10,000 cash bail at his arraignment in Westfield District Court yesterday after he was extradited from Florida.
He was charged with rape and indecent assault and battery.
The charges stem from a sexual assault complaint Westfield Det. Daniel Gustafson had responded to on Dec. 19, 2012.
Gustafson reports, in an application for a criminal complaint filed at the court, that he spoke with a 17-year-old resident of the Washington Street neighborhood who told him that she had met a new boy in her physical education class at Westfield High School and had agreed to “hang out” with the boy she called Felix after school.
She told Gustafson that she met him on Elm Street and “right away he began to be touchy, asking for a hug.”
She told the boy repeatedly, she said, that she had a boyfriend and said she “only wants to be friends” but he continued making advances.
The girl said that she went home to drop off her school supplies and the boy went with her.
She said that they went to “hang out” in her backyard and Felix renewed his advances saying it was not cheating “if her boyfriend does not know” before he pinned her down, pulled her shirt down, grabbed and fondled her private parts, and forced her to perform a sex act
Gustafson reports he sought the boy at Powder Mill Village at 126 Union Street and found Felix M. Flores, 18, who was staying with a friend’s family there.
At arraignment, Flores’ address was listed as 906 Abrams Boulevard, Lehigh Acres, Fla.
The boy was wearing the clothing the victim had described but denied that he had been with her.
Nonetheless, he was charged with rape and indecent assault and battery on a person older that 14 years of age.
As a result, Flores was not allowed to return to Westfield High School.
He did not appear in court as scheduled to answer the criminal complaint that Gustafson filed.
Gustafson explained recently that, although Flores’ mother lives in Florida, he has family living in Springfield.
In due time, Gustafson received word from a school resource officer at Royal Palm Exceptional School Center who reported that he had learned that one of the pupils at the school was the subject of an outstanding warrant issued by the Westfield court.
The school is described as a public special education school in Fort Meyers, Fla.
Gustafson on Friday went to Florida and brought Flores back to the Commonwealth.
He said that the boy was not told that he was being extradited and thought that he was being released.
Gustafson explained that Florida will hold a suspect pending extradition for no more than 30 days and Flores, who had been held for 28 days, thought that he had miscounted and was going to be released when Gustafson came for him.
Gustafson said that he made the trip back with Flores without incident.
At court, Flores was arraigned on the two charges and was held in lieu of $5,000 bail for each charge.
He will next appear in court on April 19.
