A 70-year-old Laredo man has been arrested after a group of local students reported that their friend was being sexually abused, according to the Laredo Police Department.
The incident was first reported around 10 p.m. on October 18, 2025, when officers responded to a call in the La Ladrillera neighborhood in west Laredo. Investigators said a group of juveniles told officers they had witnessed their friend being molested by a neighbor, identified as Jose Zermeno-Santos, also known as “Chino.”
The students said they had been at the suspect’s residence earlier that day when they saw inappropriate behavior involving their friend. According to police, the suspect told the children, “You didn’t see anything,” before they left the home.
When officers interviewed the child, the victim reported that the abuse had happened on several occasions. Investigators also learned that Zermeno-Santos had allegedly shown sexually explicit material to the child.
Following the investigation, Zermeno-Santos was arrested on October 23, 2025, and charged with:
Aggravated sexual abuse of a child
Continuous sexual abuse of a child under 14
Displaying harmful material to a minor
Authorities commended the students for their courage in coming forward and helping protect their friend.
“This case underscores the importance of speaking up when something doesn’t feel right,” a Laredo police spokesperson said.
The case remains under active investigation.