A Texas sheriff's deputy allegedly sexually abused a four-year-old and threatened her undocumented mother with deportation if she reported him.

Jose Nunez, a 10-year veteran of the Bexar County Sheriff's Office, was arrested on Sunday, June 17, reports NBC News. He has been charged with super aggravated sexual assault; a charge applied when the victim is less than six years old.

Nunez was caught after the child, who had been suffering from physical pain, "made an outcry," prompting her mother to take her to a fire station for help. Investigators believe the abuse has spanned months, if not years.

"When one person or persons individually demonstrate like they did in this case that they're not worthy to be part of this agency? Then we're going to quite frankly, get them out of here. Cut them out like cancer. And that's what's going to happen in this case," said Sheriff Javier Salazar during a press conference.

Nunez was released on bond on Monday morning according to KENS-5 and placed on administrative leave pending an investigation. The police department’s internal affairs division is conducting a separate one, and Nunez faces a minimum of 25 years in prison.

Salazar encourages undocumented people to report crimes against them and their families.

"[We ask] victims of a crime or a witness to a crime to please come forward and report it. Just like we're doing in this case, we're filling out paperwork with this witness in question to make sure that she's given protected status pending the outcome of this case," Salazar said.

Jose Nunez

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