Illegal migrant arrested for rape in Herndon, VA, days after release

An illegal Honduran migrant has been accused of raping a woman on a popular hiking trail outside Washington DC, just days after being released from prison on a new sex crime charge. ten years ago, according to authorities.

“This is the only stranger rape we’ve had in the city in the 12-plus years I’ve been chief of police,” Herndon, Virginia, Police Chief Maggie DeBoard said at a news conference Tuesday.

Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin blasted local officials for allowing the serial sex plague to be released back into the community — instead of being turned over to ICE and deported.

“I am heartbroken for this victim and outraged that local Fairfax County officials are recklessly releasing violent illegal immigrants who should have been prosecuted and deported,” the Republican told The Post.

“This is a violation of their most fundamental duty to protect people. Prioritizing violent illegal immigrants over the safety of Fairfax residents is unacceptable,” he continued – adding that Virginia is not a sanctuary state.

Officers arrested 31-year-old Denis Humberto Navarette Romero on Monday on charges of intent to defile and rape.

The suspect has Honduran nationality and is staying illegally in the US. His criminal record dates back several years, Herndon police said.

Romero was released from jail just four days prior to his arrest Monday on the Washington and Old Dominion Trail, about 25 miles west of the nation’s capital.

He was released on Nov. 14 after serving only half of his 50-day indecent exposure sentence due to “good behavior,” authorities said.

The victim, who police say did not know her attacker before the attack, was on the busy walking path when he allegedly grabbed her arm, forced her to the ground and raped her just before 9pm on Monday.

After a bystander called for help, police arrived on the scene and arrested Romero within minutes.

DeBoard, the police chief, told reporters that Romero has a history of sexual assault in the city and surrounding area.

“What is disturbing is the number of times this person has been arrested and released,” she told reporters. “He has continued to reoffend and his behavior has escalated to rape in a very public space.”

Romero’s sex crime spree began in 2018, when Herndon police received a report that the perv was fondling a 14-year-old. That led to a sex crimes investigation in Fairfax County, which revealed he also exposed himself to a 10- and 13-year-old the year before, according to police records obtained by police. WashingtonPost.

But the victims’ parents were afraid to talk to police and the investigation was closed without charges.

His first arrest came four years later, when he choked a Herndon police officer in response to yet another of his deviant acts – this time slapping a woman on the buttocks at a local restaurant.

Herndon police charged him with a crime against a law enforcement officer, but the Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney reduced the charge to a misdemeanor in exchange for a guilty plea.

His most recent slammer appearance was due to an incident of indecent exposure on October 19.

The victim, Jennifer Pugh, spoke to Fox 5 DC about his obscene exhibition, which prompted her to file a police report.

“He kept coming and trying to grab my dog. Then he tried to come after me, he said things. He didn’t speak English and all of a sudden he started pulling out his stuff,” Pugh told the local newspaper. “I said, ‘There’s Ring cameras everywhere, you know,’ and he didn’t care.”

Scourge is now being held at the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center pending a preliminary hearing.

Police records show that the inconsistent spelling of the suspect’s name in his string of arrests has complicated their efforts to piece together his extensive criminal history. At least three versions of the name have been traced back to the FBI number and fingerprints of the suspected agents arrested Monday. reported the Washington Post.

The Fairfax County Sheriff’s Office says it notifies ICE every time they arrest an undocumented person, but the department’s attorney told The Washington Post that of the four times Romero has been in their custody, they never received an arrest warrant or arrest warrant from the agency.

DeBoard, in a local interview, lamented the failure of the justice system and the fear it creates in the community.

“It’s frustrating because I tell the community to feel safe here and I do believe they are safe here, I really do, but when you have cases like this, I look at this and I see part of the system… If there was a way to make it work, this would never have happened,” the chief said, adding that no party in the lawsuit is to blame.

Governor Youngkin said the silver lining is that the policies that allowed Navarette Romero to run amok in the community will not succeed in 2025.

“When President Trump takes office, the political posturing will end and localities will work with ICE to protect Virginians,” Youngkin said.