Investigation leads to arrest in Buncombe County child sex cases
Asheville, NC – A multi-agency investigation has led to the arrest of a 29-year-old man accused of sexually assaulting three juvenile victims in separate incidents reported over the past two years.
The Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office said Juan Ramon Juarez-Talamantes, 29, was arrested and charged on November 19 with two counts of statutory rape involving children ages 13, 14, or 15. Investigators later filed an additional charge on January 22 after identifying a third juvenile victim.
The investigation began in July of 2024 when detectives received a report of a sexual assault involving a child. In September of 2025, the Asheville Police Department received a separate report involving another juvenile victim. Detectives from both agencies worked collaboratively to investigate the cases and ultimately identified Juarez-Talamantes as the suspect in both incidents.
During the course of the investigation, authorities identified a third juvenile victim, resulting in an additional statutory rape charge. Officials credited the coordinated efforts between agencies for allowing investigators to connect the cases and advance the investigation.
Authorities acknowledged the impact such crimes have on victims and their families and emphasized the importance of collaboration between law enforcement agencies in addressing crimes against children. The case remains under review as it proceeds through the court system.
Key Points
- A 29-year-old man was arrested in connection with three child sexual assault cases
- The investigation linked reports from 2024 and 2025 across Buncombe County and Asheville
- A third victim was identified during the follow-up investigation
