Racine police say a 40-year-old man is facing felony sex assault charges after a 16-year-old girl said he raped her while her mother slept in the basement.
Jose Perez’s initial appearance Wednesday was postponed until Thursday so he can participate in court 
proceedings through an interpreter. He is being charged with four felony counts of third degree sexual assault. If convicted, he faces up to 40 years in prison and/or up to $100,000 in fines.
According to the criminal complaint, officers were called Tuesday to take a report from a 16-year-old girl who said Perez raped her while she was with her mother at Perez’s home over the weekend. The girl said Perez touched her inappropriately first in the kitchen while neither her mother and nor another woman were at home.
After the women returned, they went to the basement with Perez. Police say the girl told them Perez woke her up twice; first kissing her and touching her and then removing her clothing and raping her despite her attempts to fight him off. She said she avoided him the next day, but he touched her when no one was looking.
After the girl’s father was notified, he transported her to the hospital.
Perez remains in the Racine County Jail on a posted cash bail amount of $50,000. Court Commissioner Alice Rudebusch will assign bond Thursday during his initial appearance.
