KENNETT SQUARE, PA — Authorities have issued an arrest warrant for a Kennett Square man accused of sexually assaulting a mentally disabled adult over the course of four years.
Gilberto Juarez-Mercado, 46, is wanted on multiple charges, including rape by force, rape of a mentally disabled person, and sexual assault. The Kennett Square Police Department began its investigation on February 7, 2025, after the victim disclosed the abuse to a caretaker. The alleged assaults occurred at a residence in the 700 block of South Washington Street.
According to investigators, Juarez-Mercado, who has also been known as Gilberto Juarez or Gilberto Mercado, was a family acquaintance of the victim. Officials believe he fled the area prior to the victim’s report, and attempts to locate him have so far been unsuccessful.
The police are seeking public assistance to determine Juarez-Mercado’s whereabouts. He is described as a Hispanic male, 5 feet 6 inches tall, weighing 130 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes.
The warrant for Juarez-Mercado was issued on May 1, 2025, by District Court 15-3-04. Anyone with information on his location is urged to contact Sgt. Christopher Gravina at 610-444-0501, via email at tips@kennettsquarepolice.org, or through the department’s tip webpage.
Criminal charges are merely allegations, and Juarez-Mercado is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
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