Bradenton woman accused of not reporting her daughter was being raped, police say

After a lengthy investigation, a 38-year-old Bradenton woman was arrested Thursday, accused of failing to report to authorities the sexual assault of her minor daughter after her daughter told her mother she was being raped by a man living with the family.

Deputies say the child was under 12 at the time the rapes began in 2017.

Nelly Flores was told by her daughter that she was being sexually assaulted in January when the victim said she was suffering “discomfort” from the ongoing abuse, according to the arrest warrant.

Flores took her daughter to the hospital, but failed to inform medical staff or law enforcement of the rapes, according to the warrant.

Deputies say the victim suffered additional emotional problems because of her mother failing to report the abuse, so the child did not receive the proper mental health care for two years after the trauma. Deputies say the girl was forced to live in the same home as the man who continued to sexually abuse her.

William Deleon-Perez, 45, was arrested andcharged with sexually assaulting a child after the victim reported the abuse to the Florida Abuse Hotline in late January. Deleon-Perez was charged with capital sexual battery on Jan. 29 and is awaiting trial.

According to his arrest warrant, Deleon-Perez would sneak into the child’s room and rape her, and that it happened on “multiple occasions.” On one occasion, the abuse happened with the victim’s younger sister in the bedroom, the report states.

Deputies say Flores’ failure to notify authorities also robbed the sister of needed counseling for what she saw.

Flores was charged Thursday and booked into the Manatee County jail. She posted a $1,500 bond and was released the following day.